MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner officially reached Monongalia County as part of his statewide high school tour to encourage students who will be eligible to vote to register.
Warner visited University High School on Thursday to discuss the importance of voting in state and municipal elections, where he was joined by Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney to help high school seniors who will become eligible to vote to be registered to do so. Warner spoke to just over 300 students during his visit, where he focused on what the requirements are to register, when you can vote, and why it’s important for younger West Virginia citizens to take part in the electoral process.
“It’s probably the most rewarding part of this job to be able to be with high school seniors, and this morning we were in front of 340 high school seniors at University High School,” said Warner. “So it’s good to be back in Morgantown today.”
Much like during visits to high schools in 29 other counties in the Mountain State, Warner emphasized the need for every resident, regardless of what party they are affiliated with, to register to vote, particularly for locally based elections within Monongalia County and the cities and towns inside it. This was done by bringing up different examples of municipal elections within West Virginia that were determined by a coin toss due to candidates finishing in dead ties. Added to the increased involvement of younger residents in the state political picture, Warner told the students that their vote matters, regardless of what type of election they’re participating in.
“There are three West Virginians that started at their age registered either when they were 17 or 18 years old, one of them was Sarah Blair, the youngest legislator ever elected,” said Warner.
During those visits, Warner also addressed questions from students that ranged from where do you register to when is the soonest opportunity to vote in an election. In answering those questions, the West Virginia Secretary of State offered details on state law requiring a person to be registered for a political party to vote in partisan primary elections as well as ways to get paid as a poll worker. During those conversations, Warner took the time to discuss the two largest political parties in the Mountain State as well as the selection process for candidates of smaller parties.
“The primary election and the general election, that has come up more than once, and it’s a great opportunity for us to talk about the two major parties,” said Warner. “Picking their best candidates so that they can then go ahead and run off in the November general election.”
The visits to what will be high schools in over 30 West Virginia counties are aimed at increasing voter registration and participation among younger Mountain State residents, particularly those aged 17 and 20. The trip to University High School followed trips that were made in Wood County and Brooke County in previous weeks. For Warner, the discussions with high schoolers emphasizing their need to take part in their right to vote are considered worth it, not only to account for low voter participation numbers in municipal elections, but also to pay tribute to the groundwork laid by West Virginians like former U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph did in the past.
“I’ve yet to have a high school student refer to the 26th Amendment or why they have the right to vote at 18, 19, and 20 years of age,” said We (have had the right) for 196 years in this country, and it was all because of a West Virginian from Harrison County that they have the right to vote.”