West Virginia enacts bill aligning municipal election dates
On April 24, 2025, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) signed SB 50, requiring all local municipal elections to be held concurrently with a regularly scheduled statewide primary or general election by 2032.
The Republican-sponsored bill passed the West Virginia Legislature with bipartisan support, including a unanimous vote in the West Virginia Senate.
Supporters of the bill said that it would reduce election costs and lead to higher turnout. Sen. Mike Stuart (R) said, “We’ve got municipalities where we’re having a fraction, a mere fraction of voters showing up to vote because they just have no idea there’s an election.” Del. Larry Kump (R) said, “Senate Bill 50 will eliminate the taxpayer burden of holding these special elections, but importantly, will also increase voter awareness and election turnout.”
Opponents of the change said that it could reduce attention on local candidates. Andy Lang, Mayor of Bridgeport, West Virginia, said, “I think that’s a case where a highly, highly publicized presidential election, like we had this last time, can take the complete focus away from your local candidates. … So I’m more for allowing us to continue to have our municipal elections whenever we want to.”
During debate on the bill, lawmakers considered an earlier deadline for municipalities to adopt uniform election dates, but testimony from the secretary of state’s office encouraged legislators to give towns and cities more time to conform to the changes. “The redistricting process is arduous and requires ample public notice, so local officials will benefit from the proposed extension of time for implementation,” the testimony said.
https://www.newsbreak.com/ballotpedia-news-1529859/4002947170284-west-virginia-enacts-bill-aligning-municipal-election-dates
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