Primary Election Day West Virginia in United States

West Virginia’s primary election, also known as primary election day, is listed as a state holiday in which state government offices in West Virginia are closed. West Virginia’s primary election occurs on the second Tuesday of May during even years

State government offices are usually closed during West Virginia's primary election (pictured above is West Virginia's state capitol building). ©iStockphoto.com/Skyhobo

What do people do?

Polling Places are usually open from 6.30am (06:30) to 7.30pm (19:30) local time on primary election day in West Virginia. Voters eligible to vote in West Virginia’s primary election must be United States citizens and residents in West Virginia.

Some people volunteer to be poll workers for the primary election. In West Virginia’s counties that use electronic voting systems, county commission clerks must deliver vote recording devices to polling places not less than one hour prior to polls opening.

Public life

West Virginia’s primary election day is listed as a state holiday, in which the state government is closed. It is also a holiday for some university employees.

Workers who do not have a holiday can request up to three hours off from their employer, without taking leave or a deduction of pay, if they do not have at least three hours before or after work that they can go to the polls to vote.  This request must be made in writing and be given to employers at least three days prior to election day.

Background

A primary election is a preliminary election in which voters nominate party candidates for office. Voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for subsequent elections.  It is one way that a political party nominates candidates for a following general election. They are common in the United States and are conducted by the government on behalf of the parties.

West Virginia has a closed primary, meaning that voters can only vote the ballot of the party in which they are registered, although some parties allow unaffiliated voters to vote their ballots upon request.  A party change must be filed by the close of registration (21 days) before a primary or general election for voters to be eligible to vote the new party's ballot.

Primary Election Day West Virginia Observances

Other holidays in May 2012 in United States

• Loyalty Day ―Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• Law Day ―Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• World Press Freedom Day ―Thursday, May 3, 2012
• National Day of Prayer ―Thursday, May 3, 2012
• Rhode Island Independence Day ―Friday, May 4, 2012
• Cinco de Mayo ―Saturday, May 5, 2012
• National Nurses Day ―Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Primary Election Day Indiana ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Truman Day ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Lag B'Omer ―Thursday, May 10, 2012
• Confederate Memorial Day ―Thursday, May 10, 2012
• World Migratory Bird Day ―Saturday, May 12, 2012
• Mother's Day ―Sunday, May 13, 2012
• Peace Officers Memorial Day ―Tuesday, May 15, 2012
• International Day of Families ―Tuesday, May 15, 2012
• World Information Society Day ―Thursday, May 17, 2012
• Ascension Day ―Thursday, May 17, 2012
• National Defense Transportation Day ―Friday, May 18, 2012
• Armed Forces Day ―Saturday, May 19, 2012
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development ―Monday, May 21, 2012
• International Day for Biological Diversity ―Tuesday, May 22, 2012
• National Maritime Day ―Tuesday, May 22, 2012
• Towel Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• National Missing Children's Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• African Liberation Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• Shavuot ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Pentecost ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Memorial Day ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• Whit Monday ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• Jefferson Davis Birthday ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers ―Tuesday, May 29, 2012
• World No Tobacco Day ―Thursday, May 31, 2012