Voting From a Long-Term Care Facility in the General Election

Older Americans are one of the most reliable voting blocks in the U.S. – but the coronavirus has created challenges to long-term care residents’ voting options. In response to COVID-19, many nursing homes have locked down, prohibiting family and friends form visiting residents and residents from leaving the facilities. This means most residents may not be able to leave to vote.

Luckily, all registered West Virginia voters living in a long-term care facility can vote absentee in the general election. Long-term care residents may request an absentee ballot by checking the box for “Illness, injury or other medical reason which keeps me confined.”

To apply for an absentee ballot, residents should contact their county clerk or use the new absentee ballot application portal at GoVoteWV.com.  If residents don't use the online portal, their county clerk’s office must receive their ballot application via email, mail, fax or in-person by October 28th.

You can find a full list of County Clerks here. 

Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 3rd, and received by your county clerk by Nov. 9, or delivered to the clerk’s office in person by November 2nd.

Long-term care residents may also take advantage of a new program in West Virginia that allows people with disabilities to vote by electronic ballot if they can’t get to the polls or file a paper ballot without assistance. Residents can download the application for an electronic absentee ballot online or call their county clerk to request an application be sent to them. Residents should check the box to vote electronically (4B) and provide an email address when filling out the application. If the application is approved, the voter will receive an email with a secure web portal address to fill out a ballot online.