This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to mandate that all local municipal elections be held concurrently with regularly scheduled statewide primary or general elections, effective July 1, 2022. The previous provision that allowed municipalities the option to hold elections concurrently has been changed to a requirement, ensuring that municipal elections align with these larger electoral events. Additionally, municipalities that choose to hold their elections on the same day as the statewide elections will be responsible for sharing the administrative costs associated with conducting the election.

The bill also clarifies that the costs incurred by municipalities for holding elections concurrently shall not exceed their pro rata share based on the number of registered voters in the municipality compared to the total registered voters in the county. Furthermore, municipalities must comply with existing requirements regarding agreements with county election officials when conducting their elections. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the electoral process and potentially increase voter turnout by consolidating election dates.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-31