Southside, West Virginia Public Records

The online system allows new registrations and updates to existing registrations. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, West Virginia residents, at least 18 years old by the next election, and not currently serving a felony sentence or under legal incompetence determination. The voter registration deadline is 21 days before any election. Acceptable identification for registration includes a West Virginia driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. West Virginia maintains a closed primary system, so voters must register with a political party to vote in that party's primary election, though general elections are open to all registered voters regardless of party affiliation. As an unincorporated community, Southside does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council, as there is no incorporated municipal government. Residents vote in Mason County Commission races, school board elections, state legislative races, and federal elections. The county is part of West Virginia's 5th House of Delegates District and 7th Senate District for state legislative representation. Residents can find their assigned polling place by using the West Virginia Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://services.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/FindMyPollingPlace or by contacting the Mason County Clerk's office directly. Polling locations are assigned based on precinct boundaries, and voters must vote at their designated location on Election Day unless they have obtained an absentee ballot. West Virginia election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase for legitimate political purposes), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees (searchable at https://cfrs.sos.wv.gov/), candidate filings and declarations, and official election results by precinct. The Secretary of State's website provides election results dating back multiple election cycles at https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/default.aspx. Approximately 63-68% of registered voters cast ballots in the November 2024 general election, with results reflecting Mason County's conservative political lean in recent election cycles. West Virginia does not have a U.S.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Southside voters are published by the West Virginia Secretary of State Elections (https://sos.wv.gov/elections/). County-level offices on the ballot in 2026 may include Mason County Commission seats, county clerk, sheriff, assessor, and prosecuting attorney, depending on the expiration of current terms. Voters should verify specific races closer to the election date as candidate filing occurs in early 2026. West Virginia allows absentee voting for any registered voter. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Secretary of State's website, by mail, or in person at the Mason County Clerk's office. The application deadline is six days before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received within five days) or delivered in person to the Mason County Clerk by the close of polls on Election Day. Early in-person voting is available at the Mason County Clerk's office and designated satellite locations beginning 13 days before Election Day and ending three days before Election Day, providing a convenient option for voters who cannot vote on Election Day.