“This is a simple constitutional amendment that I believe most citizens will support and makes it consistent throughout the state that only U.S. citizens can vote in any West Virginia election.”

— West Virginia State Senator, Patricia Rucker

(from the January 24, 2026 BlackChronicle.com article “Citizen-only voting measures again introduced in W.Va.”)

For the third consecutive session, resolutions that would amend the state Constitution to ensure only United States citizens vote in West Virginia elections have been introduced in the state Legislature.

House Joint Resolution 18 and Senate Joint Resolution 9 both were introduced January 20.

“Only American citizens should vote in West Virginia’s elections,” Charlie Kolean, state director of Americans for Citizens Voting, told The West Virginia Record. “We’ve raised this issue over the past two legislative sessions because it matters to voters, and we believe this moment presents a real opportunity for Republican leadership to lead on an issue with overwhelming public support.

Read the entire article here.