Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray is calling on the state’s legislature to pass a range of election reforms aimed at strengthening election integrity in Wyoming.
During a press conference Thursday, Gray expressed confidence that with the new leadership of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus in the House, his proposed conservative bills are more likely to succeed. He highlighted the shift in legislative control after the 2024 elections, which saw the Freedom Caucus secure a majority in the House, significantly altering the political landscape.
Gray, who previously served as a state legislator, recalled how difficult it was in the past to garner support for conservative election bills.
“It’s totally different now,” he said.
He noted the increased likelihood of passing legislation with a more aligned and supportive legislative body. The new House majority, now largely influenced by the Freedom Caucus, is expected to give Gray the support he needs to push through his election-related proposals, which include banning drop boxes, prohibiting private funding of elections, requiring proof of residency and citizenship for voter registration, and strengthening voter identification requirements.
One of Gray’s primary goals is to ensure that only Wyoming residents are voting in state elections. He advocates for the requirement of documentary proof of US citizenship and Wyoming residency at the time of voter registration. This push for stricter registration standards is part of a broader set of reforms designed to bolster voter confidence in the system.
In addition to registration reforms, Gray called for a complete ban on ballot drop boxes, citing concerns over security and the lack of statutory authorization for their use in the state. He also wants to end “ballot harvesting,” the practice of collecting and returning absentee ballots on behalf of voters, which he views as a potential avenue for fraud. Another key proposal is to ban third-party funding of election administration, referring to controversial “Zuck Bucks,” a term coined after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s 2020 donation to election offices.
Gray’s proposals also focus on strengthening voter ID requirements, pushing for the use of photo IDs for voting, and advocating for hand verification of voting machines, particularly after a miscount in Weston County during the 2024 general election. The incident, which led to a hand-counting process, spurred Gray’s call for additional safeguards in the voting process.
While the Wyoming House may be more receptive to Gray’s proposals, the Senate could prove to be a point of contention. Senate leadership, particularly within the Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Committee, has expressed reservations about some of the proposed reforms. Senate Committee Chair Cale Case, who has previously clashed with Gray, has said he looks forward to giving these bills fair hearings, though he has questioned the need for some of the proposed measures, citing a lack of widespread evidence of election fraud in Wyoming.
Despite these potential challenges in the Senate, Gray remains optimistic, encouraging lawmakers not to get discouraged by potential opposition. He emphasized the importance of taking small steps forward and focusing on the legislative process to secure the reforms he believes are necessary for Wyoming’s elections.
As the 68th Wyoming Legislature prepares to convene on January 14, 2024, Gray’s proposed election reform package is set to be a key issue, with several new lawmakers already expressing support for his initiatives. Rep. Chris Knapp, a member of the Freedom Caucus and chair of the House Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Committee, has said that election integrity is a top priority for the upcoming session.
With input from Wyo File, Cap City News, and Casper Star-Tribune.
