The Natrona County Republican Party’s executive committee recently issued a resolution affirming Wyoming’s secure election process while criticizing the state Republican Party for casting doubts on the integrity of Wyoming’s voting system, Oil City News reports.
The county party’s resolution, passed unanimously on October 16, commends the reliability of the state’s electoral process and denounces what it sees as divisive actions by the state party, including misinformation and litigation against county clerks.
“Wyoming’s electoral process is safe, free from fraud and interference,” states the resolution.
It marked the latest chapter in an ongoing ideological split between the traditionalist Natrona County GOP and the state’s more hardline Republican leadership. The state party has previously challenged election protocols, prompting tension within Wyoming’s GOP ranks.
A series of events leading up to Wyoming’s primary election highlighted the divide. The Wyoming GOP, expressing concerns over voting machine tests in Laramie County, filed a lawsuit against Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee, which was resolved through a settlement requiring additional testing. The settlement involved a court-approved consent decree, though the state GOP moved to censure Lee shortly afterward.
The Natrona GOP’s resolution, however, supports Lee and all county clerks, commending them for their efforts in ensuring secure and accessible elections. The resolution condemns the state GOP’s “frivolous litigation” against clerks, emphasizing that such actions undermine public confidence in Wyoming’s elections. This statement follows a routine audit of the 2024 primary election, which confirmed the integrity of the results without issue.
For years, the Natrona County GOP has maintained a critical stance toward state party leadership, which has included withholding dues, reducing delegate counts, and occasionally calling for leadership changes. Most recently, Natrona Republicans pushed back against calls for additional, costly litigation, urging a unified front to promote election confidence.
Early voting turnout for Wyoming’s general election is strong, with high voter engagement expected by November 5.
