Vote Early in Morgantown’s City Election
Updated Election Day Info
Get updated information to help you cast your ballot at your city polling place on Tuesday, April 27 from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
City of Morgantown Election Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Polling Places for Early Voting
- Polling Places for Election Day
- Polling Place Wait Times (Hint: 0 minutes)
Charter Referendum
VOTE NO to the proposed charter amendment.
Voters’ ability to hold all legislators accountable will be reduced by staggered four-year terms. Taxpayers’ money won’t be saved because elections will still be held every two years. Most critically at risk is civic interest and voter participation. If split and staggered, there’s strong evidence to hypothesize Morgantown’s paltry average voter turnout, which has averaged around 11% in recent years, will become a shadow of its former self.
Read more about the referendum on the ballot.
Candidate Endorsements
In these contested Morgantown City Council races, West Virginians for Common Sense endorses the following candidates:
- 1st Ward — Seth Collins (Write-in)
- 5th Ward — Tony Setley
- 6th Ward — Jay Redmond (Write-in)
- 7th Ward — Ben Mayle
In these candidates, we appreciate that these people have been responsive to us and the public in requests for information. Additionally, we like their common sense positions on a number of issues, most notably in their opposition to the proposed charter amendment to lengthen and stagger council terms.
How to Write in a Candidate
Recently Published Early Voter Turnout Numbers
Early Voters as of 4/22/21.
Common Sense Endorsements
Vote No Charter Change
Key Points to Remember
No money will be saved by this Charter change: Elections will still be held every two years (Wards 1, 3, 5) followed by another election (Wards 2, 4, 6).
Voter interest may be negatively impacted by this Charter change: With only 11% average turnout now, shouldn’t we be finding ways to improve turnout?
Differences between Beckley, Charleston, Clarksburg & Morgantown
Here is a bit of information about what makes the body politic different in Beckley, Charleston, Clarksburg from Morgantown.
Beckley
Nonpartisan elections
No person shall be eligible to the office of mayor or councilman unless at the time of his election he is legally entitled to vote in the city election for member of the common council; and he was for the preceding year assessed with taxes upon real or personal property within the said city of the assessed aggregate value of at least three hundred dollars ($300.00) and shall actually have paid the taxes so assessed.
- Directly elects mayor
- $10 filing fee to run for Council; $15 fee to run for Mayor
- Features at-large and ward-based representation
- Allows for between 5-9 wards
- 1 councilor per ward and 2 at-large councilors
- Council nominates and appoints city manager
Charleston
Partisan elections
To qualify to run for office a person must has been assessed with and paid taxes in the City of Charleston upon a valuation of at least one hundred dollars worth of real estate or personal property therein for the preceding year.
- Directly elects mayor
- Nominations of candidates for Council and Mayor run by convention, primary election, or by political parties
- Features at-large and ward-based representation
- Has 20 wards
- 20 councilors and 6 at-large councilors
- Council nominates and appoints city manager
Clarksburg
Nonpartisan elections
To run for office must have resided in Clarksburg for 30 days and pay a $50 filing fee.
- Council elects mayor
- Features at-large representation
- Has no wards
- 7 councilors
- Council nominates and appoints city manager
What’s it cost to run municipal elections in West Virginia?
2018-2019 Actual Budgets
- Clendenin – $7,993
- Clarksburg – $11,755
- Elkins – $11,135
2019-2020 Actual Budgets
- Beckley – $38,000
- Morgantown – $31,307
- Wheeling – $12,405* listed as a “fund” unclear whether it’s inclusive of costs or a transfer to another line for purposes of elections.
Malfeasance
Malfeasance in office is the doing of an act for which there is no authority or warrant of law.
Misfeasance
Misfeasance is the wrongful and injurious exercise of lawful authority — that is, the doing of an act which might lawfully be done, but is done in an improper manner.
Nonfeasance
Nonfeasance is a term used in tort law to describe inaction that allows or results in harm to a person or to property. An act of nonfeasance can result in liability if (1) the actor owed a duty of care toward the injured person, (2) the actor failed to act on that duty, and (3) the failure to act resulted in injury.