Secretary Tennent Returns to Concord to Encourage Voting

West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant came to Concord University to discuss the importance of voting, as well as the rights of a citizen in the voting process. This push for voter awareness began last year, and has only expanded since then, but before she talked about the importance of voting, Tennant first answered questions about how the government of West Virginia works. She began by describing what exactly the Secretary of State does in the West Virginia state government. According to her, she is the secretary to the governor. She is also the keeper of the seal of West Virginia, which needs to be placed on all executive orders and laws before they can take effect. 

    Following these trivia tidbits, Tennant talked about what the state government has been doing to get the word out encouraging people to vote. For example, they have created YouTube videos about the importance of voting, instituting a contest where, if a person watches one of those videos, they could win a prize. Along with the usual talk about the importance of voting and why it is significant to the process of the function of the state, Tennant added that there is a great deal of information about the process of voting on a website that the state government created. The website, sos.wv.gov, contains all of the information that is required to know about how to vote, where to register if someone is not registered to vote, where an individual’s polling place might be, and so on. Besides that, there is a new feature in West Virginia politics: online voter registration. It began September 18 and ends October 18. According to Tennant, this never use to exist.

    In order to register to vote online, all a person needs is a valid driver’s license or photo ID distributed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The website also allows out-of-state voters to acquire absentee ballots. Another feature of registration is on the horizon, as automatic voter registration will soon become available. This works in the same way that renewing driver’s license or a state-distributed ID. When a person renews one of those items, they also become registered to vote. Straight-line voting has also been eliminated. Before, voters could simply push a button and vote Democrat or Republican in a straight ticket. Now, voters have to choose by the individual rather than the party. Of the 37% voter turnout in 2014, 27% were straight-ticket voters. 

    In addition to talking with students and faculty about what the state is doing to get the word out about the importance of voting, Tennant gave the floor over to her audience and asked what Concord University could do to make it so that the word is spread. There was talk that Concord University should consider becoming a polling place. Students also thought about using social media to get the word out to vote. Concord University hosted a local candidate forum on September 27. The last day to register to vote is October 18, and early voting begins October 26. The general election is on November 8. Those that wish to register online can go to www.ovr.sos.wv.gov to do so.