This bill amends West Virginia Code §3-1-28 to establish a program that allows election official trainees to be appointed as election officials. The new provisions specify that the governing body responsible for appointing election officials may create this program, which permits individuals who are juniors or seniors in good standing at a secondary school to serve as election officials, provided they meet certain criteria. These criteria include maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, obtaining written approval from their school principal and a parent or guardian, and completing the required training program for election officials. Additionally, only one trainee per political party may serve in each precinct, and students will not be marked absent from school for their service.

The bill also modifies the eligibility suspension process for election officials. It allows the county commission to suspend an election official's eligibility for four years for specific infractions, such as failing to appear at the polling place or interfering with a voter. Furthermore, it introduces a two-year suspension option upon the petition of 25 registered voters, provided the petition is filed at least 90 days before an election. The names of those signing the petition will remain confidential. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the pool of election officials by including trained high school students while maintaining accountability for those serving in this role.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-28