West Virginia Code Chapter 39A. Electronic Commerce § 39A-3-2. Acceptance of electronic signature by governmental entities in satisfaction of signature requirement

(a) Any governmental entity may, by appropriate official action, authorize the acceptance of electronic signatures in lieu of original signatures on messages or filings requiring one or more original signatures, subject to the requirements and limitations of section three of this article.

(b) Any governmental entity may elect to participate and utilize the Secretary of State's digital signature authority and registry. Upon acceptance of and registration with the Secretary of State's digital signature authority and registry, the governmental entity's electronic transactions are bound to the regulation of the authority and registry and the rules promulgated thereunder. Any governmental entity not required to participate, but which elects to participate, may withdraw at any time from the program upon notification of the Secretary of State and all others who utilize that entity's digital signature program.

(c) Any governmental entity may adopt, in the manner provided by law, an ordinance, rule or official policy designating the documents on which electronic signatures, electronic postmarks or both are authorized and the type or types of electronic signatures which may be accepted for each type of document. Those governmental entities not subject to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code which propose to authorize the acceptance of electronic signatures, electronic postmarks or both on documents filed with that entity shall give public notice of the proposed adoption in a manner prescribed by law, an ordinance, rule or official policy, but in no case for less than thirty days before adoption.

(d) Any governmental entity which intends to extend, modify or revoke the authority to accept electronic signatures or postmarks shall do so by the same means and with the same notice as required in this section for adoption.