War, West Virginia Public Records

Citizens, at least 18 years old by election day, residents of West Virginia and the county, and not currently under conviction, pardon, or probation for a felony or treason. The registration deadline is 21 days before any election. Residents can also register by mail or in person at the Mc Dowell County Clerk's office. A West Virginia driver's license or state ID number is required for online registration, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. As an unincorporated community without its own municipal government, War has no city council or mayoral elections. Residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. McDowell County voters elect county commissioners, sheriff, county clerk, assessor, prosecuting attorney, and other county officials on staggered terms. Residents can find their assigned polling place by contacting the Mc Dowell County Clerk's office or by using the West Virginia Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://services.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/FindMyPollingPlace. West Virginia makes various election records publicly accessible, including voter registration lists with certain personal information redacted, campaign finance reports through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Reporting System, candidate filings, and precinct-level results. The Secretary of State's Elections Division website at https://sos.wv.gov/elections provides statewide election information, results, and candidate lists. In the November 2024 presidential election, McDowell County, like most of rural West Virginia, showed strong support for Republican candidates, with county voter turnout typically ranging between 40-50% of registered voters in presidential election years. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, War and McDowell County voters will decide several significant races. West Virginia does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026, as Senate races follow a staggered schedule. The 2026 election will not include a gubernatorial race, as West Virginia governors serve four-year terms and the next gubernatorial election is in 2024. However, all members of the West Virginia House of Delegates, who serve two-year terms, and half of the State Senate, serving four-year staggered terms, will be on the ballot. War residents vote for delegates representing District 8 and a state senator from the appropriate district. County offices including sheriff, county clerk, assessor, and county commission seats may also appear on the 2026 ballot depending on term expirations. West Virginia voters can request absentee ballots for various reasons including absence from the county on election day, illness, physical disability, employment obligations, or other approved reasons. Applications must be submitted to the McDowell County Clerk's office, with deadlines typically six days before the election for in-person applications. Voted absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day. The state also offers early in-person voting at the Mc Dowell County Clerk's office beginning 13 days before election day and continuing through three days before the election. Military and overseas voters have special provisions under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Complete information on absentee voting procedures is available through the Secretary of State's website and the McDowell County Clerk's office.