More than 13 dozen avid voters have been inducted into the West Virginia Voter Hall of Fame by Secretary of State Kris Warner.
They have voted in every general election for the last 50 years – going back to Nov. 5, 1974.
Gerald Ford was the president then. Arch Moore was West Virginia’s governor. Watergate was in the news. Mood rings and plaid were all the rage.
And those 164 voters in Lewis County started a voting streak that is still going strong today.
They have voted in every general election in the 50 years since then – not to mention, in many cases, local and municipal elections as well.
“Voting in every election for 50 consecutive years is an incredible accomplishment and commitment to our election process,” Warner said in a press release.
“Higher participation in any election leads to greater legitimacy and acceptance of the results, not just for those who are declared elected, but also for public questions like constitutional amendments, bonds, and levies,” he said.
Warner said voting and elections have changed a lot in five decades – they’re electronic, with faster results, for example. But many races are surprisingly close.
“We had five elections across the state in 2024 that were decided by less than five votes,” Warner said.
Such tight races, he said, drive home the importance of voting.
Retiring Lewis County Clerk Cindy Rowan reviewed the participation history of those who were inducted to certify voters who were eligible for the hall of fame.
Lewis County traditionally has one of the highest voter turnout rates of the 55 counties, with more than 70% voter participation.
Warner’s office plans to recognize prolific voters in all 55 counties across the state.