Living Democracy

Betsy Cook

“We the People,” the three most important words in the Constitution, gave the power to govern to the people. That had never been done before. The right to vote is the most powerful tool citizens of the United States have to protect our democracy and the rule of law.

The Constitution gives states the authority to run elections (Article I, Section 4). There are 50 different plans and procedures happening on and before the National Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026.

Ohio will have its Primary Election on Tuesday, May 5 to vote for candidates to be on the ballot in November. To vote in the May 5 primary election you must be registered to vote by April 6, 2026. You can check to see if you are registered on line at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections or in person at Washington County Board of Elections, 204 Davis Ave. Marietta. If you are not registered, you will need your driver’s license or Ohio identification card number, name, date of birth, address and last four digits of your Social Security number to register online or in person.

West Virginia will have its Primary Election on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. To vote in the May 12 primary election, you must be registered by April 21, 2026. You can check to see if you are registered on line at https://sos.wv.gov/elections, in person at the Wood County Courthouse 1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV or at the DMV. If you are not registered, you will need your driver’s license or WV state issued identification card and proof of physical address.

It is going to be up to “We the People” to be sure we have free and fair elections in the United States. Here are some ways the people can make sure their vote, and their neighbors’ votes are counted.

¯ Make a plan to vote.

¯ Check that you (family and friends too) are registered to vote. Voters are being purged from the rolls for various reasons. A friend of mine says check your registration on https://www.vote411.org/check-registration. When it comes up, take a screen shot of it. Do this before April 6 as proof that you are registered.

¯ If you are not registered to vote, you can do that at the Board of Election or on line at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections click on voters:voteohio.gov then register to vote online.

¯ Choose how you wish to vote, early voting in-person, absentee ballot by mail or Election Day at your polling place.

¯ Vote early which starts April 7 in Ohio at the Board of Elections and April 29 in WV at the Board of Elections.

¯ Get Ohio Absentee Ballot application online https://www.boe.ohio.gov/washington or go to the Board of Elections in person. Ohio absentee ballots must be received Election Day, May 5 by 7:30 pm. For WV absentee ballot, go to https://sos.wv.gov/elections/pages/absenteevotinginformation.aspx mailed and postmarked by Election Day.

¯ Give someone a ride to the poll.

¯ The Board of Elections needs poll workers to protect each person’s right to vote. Volunteers train and complete tasks with people of different political affiliations.

Free and fair elections are in the hands of “We the People.” You may think “this is only a primary election” but every election is important and sends a message to our representatives that we watch, we listen and we care. In a democratic republic, we are choosing the people that will represent our values, morals and interests.

Use it or lose it. Vote on or before May 5 in Ohio and May 12 in West Virginia.

Betsy Cook, member of Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens, a local citizen group. Our mission is to inform and educate the Mid-Ohio Valley about how government works on the local, state, and federal levels and how citizens can be involved to make our democracy work. Join us the third Monday of each month.

livingdemocracymov@gmail.com and facebook/living democracy: engaging citizens and Youtube channel Living Democracy