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PARKERSBURG – With the midterm election slated for 2026, people are reminded about registering to vote and how there will be a number of offices up for election with deadlines for candidates to file in the coming weeks.

The May primary is scheduled for May 12, 2026, in West Virginia.

In 2026, elections will be held for a number of offices at the local, state and national levels including the U.S. Senate (the seat held by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.), the state’s two U.S. House of Representatives seats, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals (Unexpired Term), Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, state Senate (Seat held by State Senator Mike Azinger), House of Delegates, State Executive Committee, County Commission (the seat currently held by Commissioner Robert Tebay), Board of Education, Conservation District Supervisor, County Executive Committee and District Executive Committee.

Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales said people interested in registering to vote need to bring in a valid driver’s license or state ID card (with their photo on it) as well as a supporting document to show they have a physical local residence, like a utility bill, to the County Clerk’s Voter Registration Office at the Wood County Courthouse in person. Registration can be completed the same day.

If people don’t have a driver’s license or state ID card, they can present a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government issued document that shows the name and address of the voter. They will be able to receive their Voter ID card within 10 days.

There are other options available to register by mail, at the Department of Motor Vehicles and online that are outlined on the county website at woodcountywv.com under the County Clerk’s section.

Gonzales is reminding people that the Republican primary is no longer open and only registered Republicans can vote in it. The Democratic primary is open to registered Democrats. The Mountain Party primary is open to registered members of the Mountain Party and non-partisan voters. The Libertarian and Constitution parties are open to non-partisan voters. People not registered in any of the parties can vote non-partisan, Democratic or Mountain.

Gonzales said they are going to be publicizing that in the coming weeks and months.

“There may be people who are not aware of this,” Gonzales said of the change to the Republican primary. “We are going to post this at the courthouse, get it in the newspaper and post it when people come into the polls.

“There may be some upset people who are not aware of it.”

People are able to register to vote until April 21.

“We recommend people register as soon as they can,” Gonzales said. “That way you are registered in our system and it won’t hold you up or you won’t forget about it.

“If the (April) 21st passes then you won’t be able to register to vote.”

Absentee ballot applications are being accepted from Jan. 1 through May 6. Ballots will be mailed out March 27 through May 7. Ballots have to be postmarked by Election Day in order to be counted.

People interested in running for local county offices can register from Jan. 12 to Jan. 31 at the Clerk’s Office. They need to bring a photo ID and a supporting document to show they have a local residence, like a utility bill, paycheck, bank statement or some type of government document showing their name and address. People running for city offices need to register with the city they are running in. People registering to run for state or federal offices need to register with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office in Charleston.

People who are going to be age 18 by the time the election occurs can also register to vote. The County Clerk’s Office did voter registrations recently at local high schools when Secretary of State Kris Warner visited.

“It is currently anyone who is 17-years-old who will turn 18 before the election,” Gonzales said. “They can register now.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com