(a) The Secretary of State in conjunction with the state Election Commission shall produce one or more audio-visual programs which explain and illustrate the procedures for conducting elections, the duties of the various election officials and the methods of voting on each voting system in use in the state.
(b) One copy of the appropriate training program shall be distributed to and kept and preserved by the clerk of the county commission of each county. The program shall be shown to all election officials before each election as part of their instructional program. The clerk of the county commission shall conduct an adequate number of sessions to train all election officials, shall schedule the regular sessions not less than seven days before each election and shall notify all election officials of the exact date, time and place such instructional program will be conducted.
(c) No person may serve as an election commissioner or poll clerk in any election unless he or she has attended the instructional program required by subsection (a) of this section within thirty days prior to an election. If an election official fails to attend the instructional program, another person shall be appointed in the election official's place in the same manner as persons are appointed under the provisions of section thirty of this article to replace election officials refusing to serve. The clerk of the county commission shall conduct an additional instructional program within seven days prior to the election for any such person so appointed: Provided, That in cases of emergency, when no person who has attended the instructional program for that election is available to fill a vacancy on the election board, the clerk of the county commission may appoint the substituted person as a commissioner or poll clerk notwithstanding that he or she has not received the instruction.
(d) The requirements of this section apply to all elections conducted by municipalities, except that the recorder or municipal clerk responsible for the election shall perform the duties of the clerk of the county commission defined in this section. The clerk of the county commission may assist the recorder or municipal clerk in conducting the instructional program.
(e) When the instructional program is not being used by the clerk for instructional purposes, it shall be available to any duly organized civic, religious, educational or charitable group without charge, except that the clerk shall require a cash deposit on such use in an amount to be determined by the Secretary of State.
(f) The Secretary of State shall cause the instructional program to be amended, edited or reproduced whenever he or she is of the opinion such revision is necessary in light of changes in the election laws of this state.
(g) No elected official may appear in any training program either in person or by visual image or by name.
(h) Every county clerk shall attend a training, to be conducted by the Secretary of State every two years, for the purpose of reviewing the election official training and receiving updates on election law matters.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 1. General Provisions and Definitions
§3-1-2. Scope of Chapter; Definitions
§3-1-3. Persons Entitled to Vote
§3-1-6. Municipal Voting Precincts
§3-1-7. Precinct Changes; Procedure; Precinct Record
§3-1-9. Political Party Committees; How Composed; Organization
§3-1-10. Party Committees in Office
§3-1-11. Powers of State Executive Committee; Central or Subcommittees; Party Emblems
§3-1-12. Members of National Party Committee
§3-1-13. Other Party or Group Committees
§3-1-14. Presidential Electors; How Chosen; Duties; Vacancies; Compensation
§3-1-15. Election of United States Senators and Congressmen
§3-1-16. Election of State Officers
§3-1-17. Election of Circuit Judges; County and District Officers; Magistrates
§3-1-18. Election to Fill Other Offices
§3-1-19. Ballot Commissioners; Selection; Duties Generally; Vacancies
§3-1-20. Cards of Instructions to Voters; Sample Ballots; Posting
§3-1-23. County Commission to Arrange Polling Places and Equipment; Requirements
§3-1-24. Obtaining and Delivering Election Supplies
§3-1-25. Supplies by Special Messenger
§3-1-26. Election Supplies in Emergencies
§3-1-27. Municipal Precinct Registration Records
§3-1-28. Election Officials; Eligibility, Suspension of Eligibility
§3-1-30a. Oaths of Election Commissioners and Poll Clerks, Substitution of Persons
§3-1-32. Opening and Closing Polls; Procedure
§3-1-33. How Elections Conducted by Double Boards
§3-1-35. Ballots to Be Furnished Voters
§3-1-36. Report on and Disposition of Ballots Spoiled or Not Used
§3-1-37. Restrictions on Presence and Conduct at Polls
§3-1-38. Disorder at Polls; Procedure
§3-1-39. Illegal Voting; Affidavit; Procedure
§3-1-43. Disposition of Miscellaneous Election Papers
§3-1-44. Compensation of Election Officials; Expenses
§3-1-45. Court Proceedings to Compel Performance of Duties, etc.
§3-1-46. Training Program for Election Officials
§3-1-49. Voting System Standards
§3-1-50. Establishment of State-Based Administrative Complaint Procedures
§3-1-51. Identity Verification of Voters Executing Voter Identity Affidavit