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HB4157 • 2026

Eliminating requirement for write-in candidates to register with Secretary of State in order to qualify write-in candidate votes to be counted.

Eliminating requirement for write-in candidates to register with Secretary of State in order to qualify write-in candidate votes to be counted.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Kump
Last action
2026-01-14
Official status
H To House Judiciary 01/14/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Eliminating requirement for write-in candidates to register with Secretary of State in order to qualify write-in candidate votes to be counted.

Eliminating requirement for write-in candidates to register with Secretary of State in order to qualify write-in candidate votes to be counted.

What This Bill Does

  • Eliminating requirement for write-in candidates to register with Secretary of State in order to qualify write-in candidate votes to be counted.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-14 H

    To House Judiciary

  2. 2026-01-14 H

    Introduced in House

  3. 2026-01-14 H

    To Judiciary

  4. 2026-01-14 H

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Eliminating requirement for write-in candidates to register with Secretary of State in order to qualify write-in candidate votes to be counted.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 4157 Text

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Introduced Version

House Bill 4157 History

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= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4157
By Delegate Kump
[Introduced January 14, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to repeal
§3-6-4a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended
, relating to removing the requirement that write-in candidates file with the Secretary of State before votes for said candidates can be counted.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 6. Canvass of Returns; Declaration of Results; Recordkeeping.

§3-6-4a. Filing requirements for write-in candidates.

[Repealed.]

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to remove the requirement that write-in candidates file with the Secretary of State before votes for said candidates can be counted.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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