All voter registration records are processed by the clerk of the county commission, regardless of whether the Town of Eleanor uses county registration books or has separate municipal registration books. The municipal recorder can supply voter registration mail in forms but has no authority to alter, transfer or purge registrations. All of these functions are the duty of the county clerk.
(a) Voter Registration Books. At least one day before the Town of Eleanor election, the registration records for the municipality must be picked up from the county clerk's office. Within 10 days after the municipal election, the registration records must be returned to the county clerk's office. Registration records necessary for contests will be made available by the county clerk. County precinct voter registration books are used in municipal elections when the precinct boundaries are the same and all registrants are entitled to vote in all elections. When only part of a county precinct is within a municipality, voter registration records may be placed in a separate book or section of the county precinct book. If a county precinct book does not contain all registration records needed for a municipal election precinct, precinct books may be used in combination with other precinct books to make up a complete set of registration records for the municipal election precinct. Separate municipal precinct books should only be used when county precinct boundaries are divided by municipal or ward boundaries to the extent that it is impossible to use county precinct books or separate municipal sections of those precinct books. Separate registration books can cause serious problems if they are not properly maintained. The municipal books must be an exact duplicate of all voter registrations of persons living within the municipality.
(b) Changes Made to Registration Records. Within thirty days following the entry of any annexation order or change in street names or numbers, the governing body of the Town of Eleanor must file with the clerk of the county commission a certified current official municipality boundary map and a list of streets and ranges of street numbers within the municipality to assist the clerk in determining whether a voter's address is within the boundaries of the municipality. The clerk of the county commission is responsible for processing the voter registration records for both county and municipal precincts. No registration record may be removed from a municipal registration record unless the registration is lawfully transferred or canceled pursuant to West Virginia Code. According to law, a person is only required to register once in order to vote in all elections in which he or she is eligible. State law allows a registered voter to change his/her name and/or address on the polling slip at the polls on election day. If the registered voter has moved within the municipality but outside his/her precinct, he/she must vote a challenged ballot at his/her new precinct. An "inactive" voter may vote an unchallenged ballot at his/her precinct. By voting, the voter restores his/her voting status to "active". Remember, any change or correction to a voter's record is made by the county clerk.
(c) Municipal Poll Slips. After an election is certified, the recorder should deliver the poll books containing the signatures of voters in that election to the county clerk so the voting records may be corrected. This process is necessary to be able to properly purge voter registration records.
(d) Registering Voters. The Town of Eleanor recorder may distribute mail-in voter registration forms to individuals. The deadline to register to vote in any election is 20 days before that election. To do a registration drive before a town election, you may contact the county clerk to see if a special registration sitting can be offered by the clerk's staff within the town. Mail-in voter registration applications may also be ordered from the supplier.
(Ord. 05-07. Passed 10-20-05.)