The bill amends sections of the Code of West Virginia to mandate that municipal elections be held on the same day as statewide elections. Specifically, it requires municipalities to either amend their existing ordinances or charters or adopt new ones to ensure that local elections coincide with regularly scheduled statewide primary or general elections. This change aims to streamline the electoral process and enhance voter participation by aligning local and state election dates.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that municipalities must share in the administrative costs of these elections, which will be calculated based on the proportion of registered voters in the municipality compared to the total registered voters in the county. Municipalities that have charters requiring different election dates must amend those charters by July 1, 2032, to comply with this new requirement. The legislation also allows for adjustments to the terms of elected officials to align with the new election schedule, provided that such changes are approved by a majority vote of the participating voters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-29, 3-1-31
Committee Substitute: 3-1-29, 3-1-31, 8-5-5
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 3-1-29, 3-1-31, 8-5-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 3-1-29, 3-1-31, 8-5-5