To cut to the chase, there is an old adage: “Elections are won by those who show up to vote”. 2026 is an election year. May 12th is election day. The state Republican party has chosen to have a closed primary, while the Democratic party will leave their primary ballets open for anyone who chooses to select from their slate of candidates. Last year, the state legislature added voter identification requirements. Thus, before showing up at your polling station, be sure that you have checked off a few boxes so that your vote will count.
First, be sure that your voter registration is up to date on the Secretary of State’s roles. The National Association of Secretaries of State website (nass.org) allows you to type in your name and birth date. It will link to the West Virginia Secretary of State website to verify that you are registered and what party you have chosen. You can also go directly to sos.wv.gov, click on Elections, then GoVoteWV.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on link to check your registration data.
The bottom line is a numbers game. I encourage all parties to be out registering folks around the county. I encourage all citizens (that’s all you Come Here’s too) to stake your claim to your part of Almost Heaven and register as you wish: GOP, DNC, Mountain Party, Libertarian, etc. But, know how the numbers are working currently.
Two-thirds of West Virginian (and Hardy Countian) voters are registered Republican. Thus, the GOP primary will most likely determine who will win general election in November regardless of how zealous and well informed folks may be. Many will vote on faith by checking the GOP candidate. Let us scrutinize the GOP roster carefully. With a closed primary only registered Republicans can receive the GOP primary ballot.
Over the past few years, many politicians were previously “Democrats” because that was where the votes were. With the shift in party rolls, they have switched to “Republican”. Next, consider your values. Which party platforms are consistent with the style of leadership and the types of laws which you wish to live under? I have neighbors and fiends who believe differently from me. I honor their right to their beliefs and acting on those. That just gives us something meaty to talk about over a hearty meal and a brew.
We might shake hands at the end of the evening, with better understanding of each others positions. And, the next day we can work together, splitting some wood or sharing produce from our gardens. Community is about relationships, not being right all the time. Next, listen to the candidates from all sides. From my experience, there is as much diversity within the parties as between the parties. Listen, learn, decide, vote. Do not limit yourself to only your party’s meetings. Step into the room of the other party to listen for yourself.
I have stated numerous times that I have been registered Republican since 1980. But, when I get an invitation to a Democratic meeting, I go. I suspect that some on the Republican side question my loyalty. And, some on the Democratic side wonder why I am at a Kitchen Table Alliance event. Yet, I meet friends from both sides at Red’s Broken Spoke or the McCoy’s Grand, where we can just enjoy the music and our company.
Oscar Larson
Baker, WV
