MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. — All but one county clerk in West Virginia are against the For the People Act, which would change voting laws, election regulations and even campaign financing.
The reform would affect every state, and Marshall County Clerk Jan Pest doesn't think it's a good idea.
“All the states are different,” she said. “One size does not fit all when it comes to planning and doing things.”
The act could make automatic voter registration at government agencies a requirement unless a voter opts out. There could also be same-day voter registration on election days.
Plus, the use of mail-in absentee voting would expand and early voting could be created across the country.
Pest said something like this would be very costly to states. Plus, she said West Virginia has had no issues when it comes to voting or elections.
“Yes, I do,” she said when asked if she still thinks the system works. Absolutely. I don't believe any clerk would ruin their reputation over trying to get somebody elected, even if it was a local person. It would take a conspiracy of people because West Virginia has terrific election laws. Our elections are very safe and very secure.”
Clerks from across the state sent letters to senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito urging them to vote down the bill.
Pest believes it's better to keep the regulations in the hands of the local governments.
“The more you take away from us, the less we can control,” she said. “That would be a huge hardship on people if the government tries to make decisions for the whole United States when we all have our own issues in our own states and even in our own counties.”
The only clerk to not sign the letters was from Monongalia County.