JACKSON, Wyo. — Governor Mark Gordon has signed a long list of bills into law so far as the 2023 legislative general session begins to wind down. The highly debated HB103 received signatures from Speaker of the House Albert Sommers and Senate President Ogden Driskill.
HB103, political party affiliation declaration and changes, aims at curbing so-called “crossover voting” by requiring voters to select their party affiliation before the nomination period opens for candidates.
If HB103 becomes law, voters must declare or change party affiliation “before the first day on which an application for nomination may be filed under W.S. 22-5-209.” Nomination applications can be filed 96 days prior to the primary election. Under HB103, voters would not know who is running prior to affiliating with a party. If signed by Gordon, the law would be effective immediately.
Currently, Wyoming voters can change their party affiliation on and up until primary election day. Wyoming voters can also register to vote on election day. Two other party affiliation-related bills died earlier in the session.
Voter ID
Gordon has signed three voter ID-related bills. A fourth, which would control who can distribute absentee ballot request forms need Sommers’ signature before heading to the Governor’s desk.
HB131, prohibition on delivery of unsolicited ballot forms, passed on its third reading and was signed by Senate President Driskill, today, March 1. If signed by the Governor, the bill would prohibit anyone except a county clerk or the Secretary of State’s Office from distributing an absentee ballot request form. If signed into law, the act would be effective immediately.
HB279 was signed by Gordon on Feb. 23, requiring voters to provide identification to obtain an absentee ballot in person.
Signed on Feb. 21, HB79 states that a concealed carry permit, issued by the state of Wyoming, is an acceptable ID form when voting in person at a polling place or in person at an absentee polling place.
Gordon also signed HB5, voter registry list-voter ID, on Feb. 21. This act amends the definition of “registry list” to include a state-issued voter identification number, absentee ballot status and registration dates. Prior to this law, the registry list included only the list of names, addresses and party affiliations of registered voters in a precinct.
HB279, HB79 and HB5 are effective July 1.
