This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish a program that allows election official trainees to be appointed as election officials. Under the new provisions, the governing body responsible for appointing election officials can create a program for trainees who meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a junior or senior in good standing at a secondary school, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, and obtaining parental approval. Additionally, only one trainee per political party may serve in each precinct, and students appointed as election officials will not be marked absent from school on the days they serve.

The bill also revises the suspension of eligibility for election officials, allowing county commissions to suspend an official for four years for various infractions, such as failing to appear at the polling place or being under the influence while serving. It replaces previous language regarding the suspension period, which was two years, and introduces a new process for suspending officials based on petitions from registered voters. The bill aims to enhance the participation of young individuals in the electoral process while ensuring the integrity and proper conduct of election officials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-28