Secretary of State Reports Voter and Business Gains Including McDowell

West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner presented a year-end account of his office’s first 12 months on Jan. 9 at the West Virginia Press Association Legislative Look-Ahead Conference, outlining measurable gains in voter registration, business formations and service innovations. Warner took office Jan. 13, 2025, and his office reported 38,960 new voter registrations during 2025, including 16,535 registrants ages 17 to 19, alongside the removal of 62,756 voter records judged outdated, duplicate, deceased or ineligible.

The office also reported 19,176 new businesses registered in 2025, bringing the statewide total to 172,147 active business entities. Warner’s team credited upgraded service channels for part of that activity, including the rollout of SOLO, a new AI chatbot designed to assist business filers that has received international recognition.

Warner spent much of 2025 visiting all 55 counties to meet county clerks and election officials, a county tour the office said informed training and planning for the 2026 election cycle. That outreach included a stop in McDowell County, where the meetings with local clerks and election administrators are intended to shape the statewide training schedule and infrastructure upgrades now being rolled out.

For McDowell residents, the reported increases in registrations and the large-scale maintenance of the voter rolls have direct operational and civic implications. A surge in registrations among 17- to 19-year-olds suggests heightened youth engagement that could change turnout dynamics in local contests, while the removal of more than 62,000 records underscores the administrative work election officials face to keep rolls accurate. These actions can streamline election administration, but they also heighten the need for clear public communication and local oversight to ensure eligible voters remain on the rolls.

The business filing growth and SOLO’s adoption aim to reduce friction for entrepreneurs seeking to register and operate in West Virginia. In McDowell County, where economic development remains a priority, easier online filing could lower barriers for local startups, but authorities and community organizations will need to address connectivity and digital literacy gaps so residents can fully use new tools.

Looking ahead, candidate filing for the 2026 election is scheduled for Jan. 12–31, and municipal clerks training will be held Jan. 27 in Charleston. Warner’s office described continued rollout of election infrastructure upgrades and SOLO enhancements as priorities for 2026. Those developments will shape how county clerks manage voter services, candidate filings and business support in McDowell and across the state, making transparency and sustained local engagement essential as the election cycle advances.