Electronic Signatures

Secretary of State Ireland is committed to full implementation of electronic signatures in citizen/business to government and government to government transactions.  Under the authority of law adopted in 1999, some state agencies have proceeded with the development of electronic approval for transactions which previously required manual signatures.  

Senate Bill 204, the West Virginia Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, paved the way for implementation of e-signatures by state agencies.  New efforts are underway in the 2005 Legislature to authorize new methods of implementing digital signatures to allow agencies to accept highly secure electronic transactions which are digitally signed.

See the full text of WV Code provisions,  Senate Bill 204.

The Secretary of State is charged with responsibilities for establishing a certificate authority and repository, or equivalent secure services through a vendor for issuance of digital certificates for use and acceptance by state agencies.  Legislative rules, CSR 153-30, have been promulgated by the Secretary of State for implementation of this responsibility.  The most recent revision of those rules may be ordered from the Administrative Law Division.