West Virginia Electoral College

Each state gets a number of electors equal to its number of U.S. Senators (two) plus that state’s number of delegates to the House of Representatives. West Virginia has three Congressman, so we get five electors.

During a Presidential election year, each political party appoints or elects loyal members to serve as electors. When you cast a vote for President, you are actually voting for that Presidential candidate's slate of party electors. West Virginia has a "winner-take-all" system, which means that only the electors from the party that wins the West Virginia Presidential election get to vote in the electoral college. This year, that will be the Republicans.

There is no law requiring West Virginia's electors to vote for any particular person. They are free to vote as they choose without any penalties. Theoretically, the electors can change the outcome of the election by voting for a different candidate. On the Monday following the second Wednesday of December (as established in federal law) each State's Electors meet in their respective State capitals and cast their electoral votes - one for president and one for vice president.

For more information on the electoral college, go to Electoral College Guide or visit the U. S. House of Representatives Office of the Clerk's website at http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/electoral.html