Candidate Information

Thank you for your interest in running for Morgantown City Council. During each Municipal Election, all seven council seats are up for re-election and council members are elected at large to serve a two-year term from July 1, to June 30, of the given term. Candidates wishing to run for city council must be qualified voters and must reside in the ward in which they are seeking office. Included on the ballot in the 2021 City of Morgantown Municipal Election is a referendum on changing the terms of office for council members from two-year concurrent terms to four-year staggered terms. Learn more about the referendum here.

COVID-19 Safety Information


In order to promote safe distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 the City of Morgantown has prepared a printable nomination form which registered voters may use to nominate candidates for the upcoming 2021 City Council election. City residents can print and complete this form themselves and send it to the candidate they are nominating by email or mail – no in-person contact with others required. Instructions are included on the form.

Printable Nomination Form - 2021 CoM Election (PDF)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tips that voters can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and minimize their risk of contracting the virus. Learn more about the CDC tips here.

Candidate Packet

 
The 2021 City of Morgantown Candidate Packet is now available at the link below. Questions? Contact the City Clerk's office at 304-284-7434 or by email at cwade@morgantownwv.gov.

2021 City of Morgantown Candidate Packet (PDF)

Write-In Candidates

  
Candidates who miss the deadline to file a Certificate of Announcement may file to become an official write-in candidate by submitting a Write-In Candidate Certificate of Announcement, which you can find below, with the Morgantown City Clerk.
Only official write-in candidates will have their votes tallied; persons who simply have their name written on a ballot are not eligible to win any election.

In each election, official write-in candidates’ names will be posted at the entrance of each polling place and will be provided at the poll worker table inside the polling place upon request by a voter.

Political Signs

  
Guidelines for the utilization of political campaign signs within Morgantown's city limits can be found in the Political Sign Regulations (PDF).

​Important Dates to Remember

Certificates of announcement will be available for pickup beginning Monday, January 2, 2023, and can be filed in the City Clerk's Office between January 2 and February 13, 2023.

A write-in candidate's certificate of announcement of candidacy shall be filed with the City Clerk no later than 14 days before the election, which will be Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

January 31, 2022 will be the last day to withdraw as a candidate.

Drawing for positions on the ballot will be conducted on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Election Day will be Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

First quarter reports will be due in the City Clerk's office on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Final campaign reports will be due in the City Clerk's office on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
Second quarter reports will be due in the City Clerk's office on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Third quarter reports will be due in the City Clerk's office on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
Fourth quarter reports will be due in the City Clerk's office on Monday, January 1, 2023.