Arnett, West Virginia Public Records

Residents can register to vote online at GoVoteWV.com, the state's official voter registration portal maintained by the Secretary of State. Online registration requires a valid West Virginia driver's license or state ID card. The registration deadline is 21 days before any election. Paper registration forms are available at the Raleigh County Clerk's office, public libraries, and various state agencies. West Virginia requires voters to provide proof of residence but does not require photo ID at the polls - acceptable documents include utility bills, bank statements, government checks, or other government documents showing name and address. As an unincorporated community, Arnett does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council, as there is no city government. Residents vote in county, state, and federal elections only. Raleigh County holds elections for County Commission (three members serving staggered six-year terms), County Clerk, Sheriff, Assessor, Prosecuting Attorney, and other county offices. These partisan elections occur in the general election in November of even-numbered years, with primaries held in May. Voters can look up their assigned polling place using the polling place lookup tool at GoVoteWV.com or by contacting the Raleigh County Clerk's office. Polling places are assigned based on voter registration address and precinct boundaries. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. To 7:30 p.m. On election day, and any voter in line at 7:30 p.m. Is permitted to vote. West Virginia public election records include voter registration lists (available to candidates and political committees with restrictions), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political action committees (available at GoVoteWV.com), candidate filings and declarations of candidacy, precinct-level election results, and absentee ballot statistics. These records are maintained by the Raleigh County Clerk and Secretary of State and are subject to public inspection under West Virginia's FOIA law. Individual voter history (which elections a person voted in, but not how they voted) is also considered a public record. The county voted heavily Republican in the presidential race, consistent with trends across southern West Virginia coalfield counties. West Virginia does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (Senators Manchin's successor and Capito are on different cycles). However, West Virginia will hold elections for all three U.S. House seats, including the 1st Congressional District which includes Raleigh County. State-level races in 2026 will include all 34 West Virginia Senate seats and all 100 House of Delegates seats - Arnett falls within a specific Senate and Delegate district based on its location in Raleigh County. Governor and other statewide executive offices are not on the ballot in 2026, as those elections were held in 2024. West Virginia offers absentee voting for voters who will be absent from the county on election day, are unable to vote in person due to illness or disability, or work a shift during polling hours. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online at GoVoteWV.com, by mail, or in person at the Raleigh County Clerk's office. The application deadline is six days before election day. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Raleigh County Clerk by the close of polls on election day. West Virginia offers in-person early voting at designated locations for approximately two weeks before election day, providing greater flexibility for voters unable to cast ballots on election day.