Two bills designed to strengthen voter eligibility requirements in Wyoming have passed the state House of Representatives and are now under consideration in the Senate, KGAB AM 650 reports.
Sponsored by Rep. John Bear [R-Gillette], the measures aim to ensure that only US citizens and Wyoming residents can participate in the state’s elections.
- House Bill 156
This bill would mandate a minimum 30-day residency in Wyoming before an individual could register to vote. County clerks would be tasked with verifying residency before approving a voter’s registration. - House Bill 157
This bill outlines acceptable documentation to confirm US citizenship for voter eligibility.
Accepted documents include:- A Wyoming driver’s license or state ID card.
- Out-of-state licenses or IDs, provided the issuing state complies with REAL ID standards.
- Additional documents such as US passports, tribal ID cards from the Northern Arapahoe or Eastern Shoshone tribes, and others.
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray expressed strong support for the bills, highlighting their role in bolstering election integrity.
“By requiring documentary proof of United States citizenship and Wyoming residency, we will ensure only United States citizens and only Wyomingites are voting in Wyoming elections,” Gray stated.
He praised the House for prioritizing election reform and pledged to continue working with lawmakers on the issue.
Both bills received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House:
- HB 156: Approved 51-8, with three members absent.
- HB 157: Passed 53-6, with three members absent.
The measures now move to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to advance them further.
