CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kicking off the final push of the 2011 general election campaign, some 27 Republican members of the House of Delegates and House candidates staged a rally Wednesday on the Capitol steps.

House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, outlined the House candidates' plan for building a stronger West Virginia, calling for fair elections, stronger state ethics laws, and more openness and transparency in the operations of state government.

The delegate candidates' top priority, he said, is to promote a pro-jobs, pro-economic development agenda.

"This is our number-one goal as legislators and legislative candidates, to put our people back to work," Armstead said.

The candidates also endorsed passage of a voter ID law. West Virginia currently does not require voters to provide a driver's license or other photo ID at the polls.

"If you have to have a driver's license simply to cash a check in a store ... why shouldn't you need to show a driver's license to be able to vote?" Armstead asked.