CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — A West Virginia delegate and local GOP leader has been removed from his role as a ballot commissioner following an election law complaint alleging he illegally participated in voting machine testing while appearing on the ballot as a candidate.
Delegate Patrick Lucas, who serves as the Cabell County Republican Party chair and is a candidate for the 24th District House of Delegates seat, was removed after a formal complaint was filed by the Cabell County Democratic Party.
The dispute centers on a public testing event held on April 27. According to the complaint, Lucas signed official election documentation identifying himself as a Republican ballot commissioner. West Virginia Code prohibits any person appearing on a ballot—with the exception of party executive committee races—from serving as a ballot commissioner.
“Election laws exist to protect public trust,” said Amanda Beach-Burge, chair of the Cabell County Democratic Party. “No candidate should be participating in election administration activities while appearing on the ballot in that same election.”
The complaint alleged that several county and election officials were present during the testing process and witnessed Lucas’s participation. In addition to his removal, the filing called for accountability regarding potential violations of state law, including false swearing.
Cabell County officials confirmed following the filing that Lucas will no longer serve in the role. Officials also stated he would not receive payment for his participation in the public testing process.
The incident comes just ahead of the May 12 election. Beach-Burge stated that the county’s decision to remove Lucas confirmed the central issue of the complaint, noting that an active candidate was permitted to act as a commissioner despite “clear restrictions in state law.”
Lucas has not yet issued a public statement regarding the removal or the allegations of statutory violations.
