• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Candidate Profile
Lootpress
  • News
    • All
    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Featured
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Local
    • National
    • North Carolina News
    • Politics
    • State
    • Top Stories
    • Virginia News
    • Weather News

    Mercer County man arrested for Indecent Exposure, Assault, more

    Man facing felony charges for attempts to solicit a minor via Facebook Messenger

    Happy Birthday Bill Withers – Born on this day in Slab Fork

    Incoming residents begin training at Marshall

    Man walking up the road with only a bra and panties on arrested for obstructing and battery

    Mother charged with child neglect out of Mercer County

    Senator Manchin wishes West Virginians a Happy, Safe 4th of July

    WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol

    July 3rd festivities still a go at Lake Stephens

    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Local
    • National

      WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol

      McConnell warns Dems of fallout for reviving Biden bill

      WVa opioid trial verdict still pending nearly a year later

      Congresswoman Miller Leads Effort to Designate June as the “Month of Life”

      Holiday-travel chaos: Airlines brace for huge weekend crowds

      Some cities nix July 4 fireworks for shortages, fire dangers

      Gov. Justice announces Woody Williams as first inductee into the new West Virginia Military Hall of Fame

      Jackson sworn in, becomes 1st Black woman on Supreme Court

      Senatore Shelley Moore Capito, (R-WV)

      Ranking Member Capito Statement on Supreme Court Decision on West Virginia v. EPA

    • Politics

      McConnell warns Dems of fallout for reviving Biden bill

      Congresswoman Miller Leads Effort to Designate June as the “Month of Life”

      Jackson sworn in, becomes 1st Black woman on Supreme Court

      Senatore Shelley Moore Capito, (R-WV)

      Ranking Member Capito Statement on Supreme Court Decision on West Virginia v. EPA

      Mullens Municipal election results certified following recount

      Biden pitches Democrats on Biden for president in 2024

      Biden says he supports changing Senate filibuster rules to protect abortion rights

      Jackson to be sworn in as Breyer retires from Supreme Court

      Most say nation on wrong track, including Dems: AP-NORC poll

    • State

      Senator Manchin wishes West Virginians a Happy, Safe 4th of July

      WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol

      WVa opioid trial verdict still pending nearly a year later

      Treasurer Moore’s Jumpstart Savings Program Officially Launches

      Congresswoman Miller Leads Effort to Designate June as the “Month of Life”

      New Magistrate to Take Office in Martinsburg

      Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

      Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

      West Virginia Lottery now allows credit card payments

    • Virginia News
    • Weather News
  • County News
    • Boone County
    • Greenbrier County
    • Fayette County
    • Kanawha County
    • Logan County
    • McDowell County
    • Mercer County
    • Mingo County
    • Monroe County
    • Nicholas County
    • Putnam County
    • Raleigh County
    • Summers County
    • Tazewell County
    • Wyoming County
  • Sports
    • 2021 Prep Football Tab
    • 2021 Prep Football Playoffs
    • Local Sports
    • College Sports
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Miners Baseball
    • Prep Baseball
    • Prep Softball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Soccer
    • Prep Track and Field
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Golf
    • WVU Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Visit Southern WV Tourism
    • Scenic Route Podcasts
  • Editorials
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All
    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Featured
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Local
    • National
    • North Carolina News
    • Politics
    • State
    • Top Stories
    • Virginia News
    • Weather News

    Mercer County man arrested for Indecent Exposure, Assault, more

    Man facing felony charges for attempts to solicit a minor via Facebook Messenger

    Happy Birthday Bill Withers – Born on this day in Slab Fork

    Incoming residents begin training at Marshall

    Man walking up the road with only a bra and panties on arrested for obstructing and battery

    Mother charged with child neglect out of Mercer County

    Senator Manchin wishes West Virginians a Happy, Safe 4th of July

    WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol

    July 3rd festivities still a go at Lake Stephens

    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Local
    • National

      WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol

      McConnell warns Dems of fallout for reviving Biden bill

      WVa opioid trial verdict still pending nearly a year later

      Congresswoman Miller Leads Effort to Designate June as the “Month of Life”

      Holiday-travel chaos: Airlines brace for huge weekend crowds

      Some cities nix July 4 fireworks for shortages, fire dangers

      Gov. Justice announces Woody Williams as first inductee into the new West Virginia Military Hall of Fame

      Jackson sworn in, becomes 1st Black woman on Supreme Court

      Senatore Shelley Moore Capito, (R-WV)

      Ranking Member Capito Statement on Supreme Court Decision on West Virginia v. EPA

    • Politics

      McConnell warns Dems of fallout for reviving Biden bill

      Congresswoman Miller Leads Effort to Designate June as the “Month of Life”

      Jackson sworn in, becomes 1st Black woman on Supreme Court

      Senatore Shelley Moore Capito, (R-WV)

      Ranking Member Capito Statement on Supreme Court Decision on West Virginia v. EPA

      Mullens Municipal election results certified following recount

      Biden pitches Democrats on Biden for president in 2024

      Biden says he supports changing Senate filibuster rules to protect abortion rights

      Jackson to be sworn in as Breyer retires from Supreme Court

      Most say nation on wrong track, including Dems: AP-NORC poll

    • State

      Senator Manchin wishes West Virginians a Happy, Safe 4th of July

      WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol

      WVa opioid trial verdict still pending nearly a year later

      Treasurer Moore’s Jumpstart Savings Program Officially Launches

      Congresswoman Miller Leads Effort to Designate June as the “Month of Life”

      New Magistrate to Take Office in Martinsburg

      Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

      Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

      West Virginia Lottery now allows credit card payments

    • Virginia News
    • Weather News
  • County News
    • Boone County
    • Greenbrier County
    • Fayette County
    • Kanawha County
    • Logan County
    • McDowell County
    • Mercer County
    • Mingo County
    • Monroe County
    • Nicholas County
    • Putnam County
    • Raleigh County
    • Summers County
    • Tazewell County
    • Wyoming County
  • Sports
    • 2021 Prep Football Tab
    • 2021 Prep Football Playoffs
    • Local Sports
    • College Sports
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Miners Baseball
    • Prep Baseball
    • Prep Softball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Soccer
    • Prep Track and Field
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Golf
    • WVU Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Visit Southern WV Tourism
    • Scenic Route Podcasts
  • Editorials
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Lootpress
No Result
View All Result

Confidence in American Government Begins with Confidence in Our Election Process

Tyler Barker by Tyler Barker
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 2:24 pm
0

By Mac Warner

West Virginia Secretary of State

Your browser does not support the video tag.

President Lincoln said, “Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision.”

Faith in our American democracy depends on confidence in the election process and results. When confidence is shaken, so too is the confidence in our government and our leaders.

Even during the pandemic, West Virginia’s election laws and procedures gave voters confidence in our system of selecting leaders, and that confidence propelled the highest voter turnout in over half a century, and second-highest turnout in our state’s history.

While COVID-19 created challenges for every state, West Virginia was prepared. Beginning in 2017, we began building relationships with our 55 county clerks and conducting extensive training. We shepherded voter list maintenance procedures with our clerks, and to date, they have removed over 200,000 deceased, duplicate, and outdated records from voter rolls. We created and practiced contingency operations, established extensive cybersecurity policies, and created a statewide Continuity of Operations Plan. We also initiated an elections-specific anti-fraud task force with state and federal partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute improprieties.

So, we were ready for the 2020 elections, and our preparatory measures stood strong. When the pandemic struck, we began taking extraordinary measures to protect the health and safety of voters and election officials alike. We secured, distributed, and issued extensive guidance regarding the use of PPE to maintain the gold standard of in-person voting as much as possible.

The pandemic allowed people to vote an absentee-by-mail ballot without legislative changes due to a legally identified medical excuse as a reason posed by the risks of COVID-19. West Virginia offered more ways to cast a secure ballot than any other state, and based on the historic turnout, the public was well educated on their options.

After ballots were cast, the next step was tabulation of the votes. Here again, West Virginia was prepared. Under existing law, county clerks were able to efficiently and securely process and tabulate ballots in a timely manner, and we saw nearly all statewide results within hours of the polls closing.

While voters in a handful of states still question whether their state-specific laws were properly implemented, West Virginia voters are confident and proud of our election success. Our poll workers, clerks and other election officials followed the laws that have been in place for years by our legislature, and adhered to guidance put forth by the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General to respond to the pandemic emergency. In doing so, we held one of the best, and safest, elections in the United States, and in the history of West Virginia.

Lincoln was right. Elections belong to the people, and West Virginia is but one of 50 states that choose our national leaders; we are inextricably tied to the rest of the U.S. The horrible events at our nation’s capitol on January 6th showed how fragile our democracy can be when people lose confidence in the election process. We all watched in horror as the protest turned deadly.

Under no circumstances should violence, mayhem, or destruction be tolerated. People who broke the law must be held accountable, and I condemn their actions. While I support small government, and free, safe, and secure “one-person one-vote” elections, I do not support violations of law in pursuit of a different outcome. Our judicial system is the appropriate venue for raising arguments and presenting evidence; not destruction at our capitols and other government buildings, or putting people’s safety in danger.

Due to proper preparation and extraordinary voter turnout, West Virginia had an exceptional election. Recent events should not distract from our successes. On Wednesday, January 13th, I presented our certified election results to the WV House of Delegates and the WV Senate, allowing the start of the 85th Session of the WV Legislature. Through voter engagement and following the rule of law, WV voters can have confidence in the election process and confidence in our elected leaders. Indeed, it is “their decision.”

ShareTweetSend
Tyler Barker

Tyler Barker

Don't Miss

Editorials

Attorney General Morrisey Deals Blow to Pro Life Movement with Short-Sighted Memorandum

2 days ago
Editorials

Investments in Local Food Vital to Fending off Food Shortages

6 days ago
Editorials

Russian Aggression Reminds Us of Need for Technological Edge

1 week ago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top Stories This Week

  • Man arrested after making bomb threats at The Greenbrier Resort

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Man walking up the road with only a bra and panties on arrested for obstructing and battery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Two arrested after sexually abusing child and grooming her to become a surrogate mother

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Old-fashioned herbal remedies still in use

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sheetz lowers pain at the pump with huge gas price reduction

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent News

Mercer County man arrested for Indecent Exposure, Assault, more

July 4, 2022

Man facing felony charges for attempts to solicit a minor via Facebook Messenger

July 4, 2022

Happy Birthday Bill Withers – Born on this day in Slab Fork

July 4, 2022

Lootpress brings you the latest news in Southern West Virginia and around.

Follow Us

Recent News

Mercer County man arrested for Indecent Exposure, Assault, more

July 4, 2022

Man facing felony charges for attempts to solicit a minor via Facebook Messenger

July 4, 2022
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Candidate Profile

© 2021 Lootpress - Your News, Now! Lootpress.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Local
    • National
    • Politics
    • State
    • Virginia News
    • Weather News
  • County News
    • Boone County
    • Greenbrier County
    • Fayette County
    • Kanawha County
    • Logan County
    • McDowell County
    • Mercer County
    • Mingo County
    • Monroe County
    • Nicholas County
    • Putnam County
    • Raleigh County
    • Summers County
    • Tazewell County
    • Wyoming County
  • Sports
    • 2021 Prep Football Tab
    • 2021 Prep Football Playoffs
    • Local Sports
    • College Sports
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Miners Baseball
    • Prep Baseball
    • Prep Softball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Soccer
    • Prep Track and Field
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Golf
    • WVU Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Visit Southern WV Tourism
    • Scenic Route Podcasts
  • Editorials
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

© 2021 Lootpress - Your News, Now! Lootpress.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist