MORGANTOWN — Back in 2016, some prominent Democrats hollered that President Donald Trump was an illegitimate president. In 2020, Republicans were hollering “rigged election,” and we had the Jan. 6 insurrection in 2021.
And now people on both sides are preparing to holler “rigged” if the other side wins. Secretary of State Mac Warner told county clerks from across the state on Wednesday that West Virginia is an example of doing elections right, and other states are taking notice and asking how. “We do what you clerks have done right here and run free, fair, clean elections.
” The occasion was the 2024 annual training for county clerks and deputies, held at the Marriott at Waterfront Place, with 52 of the 55 county clerks attending. This is Warner’s last election as secretary of state, and he recalled how 71⁄2 years ago, after he was elected but before he took office, about eight clerks called his office and asked him to attend the annual training. It was a bipartisan group speaking with one voice on his role.
“They set the tone by this impartiality and a concern for the state.” They told him, “We need to clean things up and put this state on the right track when it comes to elections. .
.. That theme of free, fair, clean elections has been the hallmark of these last seven-eight years.
” And it made West Virginia a model for the rest of the nation when it comes to elections, he said. He commended the clerks for pointing him in the right direction and for .
