Princeton, West Virginia Public Records

Additionally, the Princeton city government's official website offers information on local property assessments and tax data, allowing residents and interested parties to stay informed about their local real estate landscape.

With a budget of approximately $5.5 million for the 2023 fiscal year, the City of Princeton remains committed to investing in infrastructure, community services, and initiatives that enhance the overall economic vitality of the region.

Public safety in Princeton is the responsibility of the Princeton Police Department, which works closely with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and the West Virginia State Police to maintain order and respond to emergencies. Residents can access the West Virginia State Police's online resources to conduct background checks, search for missing persons, and verify the status of registered sex offenders within the Princeton area. The Princeton Police Department also provides information on local crime statistics and community engagement initiatives, helping to foster a safe and secure environment for the city's residents.

Princeton voters are served by the Mercer County Clerk's Office, which administers elections at 1501 W Main Street, Room 101, Princeton, WV 24740 (phone: 304-487-8311, website: https://www.mercercountywv.org/county-clerk). This office handles all aspects of voter registration, early voting, absentee ballots, and election administration for Princeton and all of Mercer County. West Virginia residents can register to vote online through the West Virginia Secretary of State's website at https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/Register/Landing, with registration deadlines of 21 days before any election. To register, applicants must provide their West Virginia driver's license number or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Princeton, as an incorporated municipality, holds city elections for mayor and city council positions. Princeton City Council consists of five members serving staggered four-year terms, with municipal elections typically held in odd-numbered years. The next Princeton municipal election is scheduled for 2025, when voters will elect council members and potentially the mayor depending on term expirations. City election information and candidate filings are available through Princeton City Hall at 304-487-5000. Princeton residents can find their assigned polling location by visiting the West Virginia Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://services.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/FindMyPollingPlace or by contacting the Mercer County Clerk's office directly. West Virginia maintains several categories of public election records: voter registration lists are available for purchase for political purposes, campaign finance reports are filed with and accessible through the West Virginia Secretary of State's office, candidate filings and qualifications are public records maintained by the county clerk, and precinct-level election results are published by the county clerk and secretary of state after each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Mercer County reported approximately 62% voter turnout with roughly 25,000 ballots cast from approximately 40,000 registered voters, continuing the county's strong Republican voting pattern. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Princeton and Mercer County voters will decide several significant races. West Virginia does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026, but voters will elect all three U.S. House of Representatives seats (Princeton is in the 1st Congressional District). State-level races include West Virginia Governor (term expires 2025, so 2024 was the last gubernatorial election), state legislature seats for both the West Virginia Senate (17 districts with staggered terms) and West Virginia House of Delegates (all 100 seats up every two years), meaning 2026 will feature delegate races. County offices up in 2026 may include Mercer County Commissioner positions, county clerk, sheriff, assessor, and prosecuting attorney, depending on term schedules. West Virginia voters can request absentee ballots through the county clerk's office by submitting an application at least six days before the election, with early in-person voting available at the county clerk's office beginning 13 days before election day. Applications can be downloaded from https://sos.wv.gov/elections or requested from the Mercer County Clerk at 304-487-8311.