West Virginia voters navigate new law requiring photo IDs at polling places in primary election

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Presenting a utility bill as valid identification In a voting district in West Virginia The tavern polling station and punch card voting were introduced.

State lawmakers have tightened existing voter ID laws by requiring photo ID at the polls, with some exceptions. The law was used for the first time in Tuesday’s primary election, and officials said they saw little disruption.

voters was determining the candidates For the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state legislature. They will also elect two new state Supreme Court justices.

Many voters welcomed the change, but some worried it could lead to voter suppression.

“I think it’s harmful,” said Tina Scala, a 60-year-old nurse from Cross Lanes. “I think this is discriminatory, it sets us back decades.”

Supporters say the law would reduce voter fraud and that photo identification is already required for everyday tasks like boarding a plane or buying alcohol.

Scala said he doesn’t see illegal voting as a widespread problem.

“They’re trying to make it seem like it’s a good thing (after) being subjected to voter fraud, which doesn’t really happen,” he said. “And what’s actually going to happen is it’s going to interfere with women’s ability to vote.”

John Query, a 37-year-old brewery general manager and registered Democrat, brought his two stepsons to vote at a polling place near the State Capitol in Charleston, showing identification that complies with the new law.

“I understand this can be prohibitive for some,” he said. “I wouldn’t prefer it that way.”

During the in-person early voting period that ended Saturday, Secretary of State Kris Warner said his office was not aware of anyone seeking to vote without a photo ID. He said the state has required citizens to use photo identification in the last few elections, so “it’s not a huge shock that this is now legal.”

“The whole point of the law is to make sure you are who you say you are,” Warner said Monday.

Warner said in his travels around the state over the past two weeks, he was told of several cases where people returned to their vehicles to get a photo ID after entering a polling place. Another voter took advantage of the law’s exception by filling out a form that was verified by a poll worker who had known them for at least six months. There were also exceptions for first-time voters.

In most states request or ask for some form of identification to vote in person at the polls.

The bill passed the Republican-dominated parliament last year. All opposing votes were cast by Democrats. Forms of identification no longer accepted at polling places include utility bills, bank statements, hunting and fishing licenses, debit or debit cards and concealed weapons carry permits. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a driver’s license, U.S. passport, military ID, employee ID issued by a government agency, and student ID from a high school or college. Warner said the law allows senior citizens to use their expired driver’s license as long as it is valid for their 65th birthday. Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney said his county has used an electronic system for several years to scan bar codes on the back of driver’s licenses to check in voters at polling places. “I think it makes voters feel safer or confirms the security of our elections for voters as they verify a person’s photo,” Blaney said. ___

You can follow AP’s news about the 2026 elections at: https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/