West Virginia
West Virginia entered the Union on June 20, 1863 as the 35th state. West Virginia was born out of the Civil War when counties in the northwestern part of Virginia broke away to form a new state, giving it one of the most distinctive origin stories in the Union. Today its state government is centered in Charleston and operates through a governor and a bicameral legislature made up of a Senate and House of Delegates.
Median household income$55,948
Poverty rate16.7%
Median age42.8
GovernorPatrick Morrisey (Republican)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026
Government & Representation
Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.
West Virginia’s state government is organized around an elected governor and a bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Delegates. Charleston serves as the center of statewide governance in a state where geography, energy policy, and county-level realities strongly influence public policy.
Legislative branch
Structure: Bicameral
Judicial branch
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U.S. Senators
Each state elects two U.S. senators to represent it in the Senate.
U.S. House delegation
House seats are apportioned by population and organized by congressional district, except for at-large delegations where applicable.
Find Your Representatives
Use one address to identify the people who represent you in West Virginia at the federal and state level.
Official legislature tools
Find my legislator
State legislature website
Elections & Voting
Use the tools below for official rules, deadlines, registration, ballot access, and upcoming statewide elections.
Search by voter address
Enter an address in West Virginia to check polling places, ballot details, election officials, and any address-based voter tools Google Civic provides.
Statewide voting links
Statewide voting links
Voting basics
- Check registration
Confirm that your voter registration is active with your state election office.
- Register/update online
Register to vote online or update your name, address, or party information when your state allows it.
- Mail registration
Download or review the mail registration process and deadlines for this state.
- In-person registration
Find out whether you can register in person before Election Day or at your polling place.
- Military/overseas voting
Access voting guidance for military members, their families, and citizens living overseas.
- Polling place finder
Look up where to vote in person and review any location details provided by the state.
Upcoming elections
Upcoming statewide elections from Google Civic appear here when they are available.
Upcoming Elections in WV
No upcoming elections for WV are available in Google Civic right now.