Wyoming 2025 Regular Session

Wyoming House Bill HB0156 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
2		-	BILL NO. HB0156
3		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
4		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
5		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	1	+	2025
	2	+	STATE OF WYOMING
	3	+	25LSO-03221HB0156
	4	+	HOUSE BILL NO. HB0156
	5	+	Proof of voter residency-registration qualifications.
	6	+	Sponsored by: Representative(s) Bear, Andrew, Angelos,
	7	+	Bratten, Brown, G, Campbell, K, Clouston,
	8	+	Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Heiner,
	9	+	Hoeft, Knapp, Lawley, Locke, Lucas, McCann,
	10	+	Neiman, Rodriguez-Williams, Webb, Webber and
	11	+	Winter and Senator(s) Ide, Laursen, D,
	12	+	Pearson, Smith, D and Steinmetz
	13	+	A BILL
	14	+	for
	15	+	1 AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a qualified elector
	16	+	2 to be a bona fide resident of the state of Wyoming for not
	17	+	3 less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election
	18	+	4 in which they offer to vote; requiring documentation
	19	+	5 proving residence to register to vote; prohibiting
	20	+	6 registration based on documentation showing noncitizen
	21	+	7 status; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking;
	22	+	8 and providing for effective dates.
	23	+	9
	24	+	10
	25	+	11
	26	+	12. W.S. 18-16-102(a)(ix)(E), (F) and by
	27	+	13 creating a new subparagraph (G), 22-1-102(a)(xxvi), (xxvii) 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03222HB0156
	28	+	1 and by creating a new paragraph (lv), 22-3-102(a)(i) and by
	29	+	2 creating a new paragraph (vi), 22-3-103(a) by creating a
	30	+	3 new paragraph (ix) and (b), 22-3-117(a)(intro),
	31	+	4 22-3-118(a)(ii) and 22-29-104(a)(v)(E), (F) and by creating
	32	+	5 a new subparagraph (G) are amended to read:
	33	+	6
	34	+	7
	35	+	8
	36	+	9 (a) As used in this act:
	37	+	10
	38	+	11 (ix) "Qualified elector" means a natural person
	39	+	12 who:
	40	+	13
	41	+	14 (E) Has not been convicted of a felony or
	42	+	15 if convicted has had his civil rights or voting rights
	43	+	16 restored; and
	44	+	17
	45	+	18 (F) Is registered to vote; and
	46	+	19
	47	+	20
	48	+	21
	49	+	22.
	50	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03223HB01561
	51	+	2
	52	+	3 (a) The definitions contained in this chapter apply
	53	+	4 to words and phrases used in this Election Code and govern
	54	+	5 the construction of those words and phrases unless they are
	55	+	6 specifically modified by the context in which they appear.
	56	+	7 As used in this Election Code:
	57	+	8
	58	+	9 (xxvi) "Qualified elector" includes every
	59	+	10 citizen of the United States who is a bona fide resident of
	60	+	11 Wyoming,
	61	+	12
	62	+	13 has registered to vote and will
	63	+	14 be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the
	64	+	15 election at which he may offer to vote. No person is a
	65	+	16 qualified elector who is a currently adjudicated mentally
	66	+	17 incompetent person, or who has been convicted of a felony
	67	+	18 and his civil or voting rights have not been restored. A
	68	+	19 literacy test shall not be imposed as a condition to voting
	69	+	20 in any election;
	70	+	21
	71	+	22 (xxvii) "Registration" is the entry and
	72	+	23 verification of the name and voter information 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03224HB0156
	73	+	1 of a qualified elector on the official registry list, as
	74	+	2 provided in W.S. 22-3-104(f) and 22-3-108;
	75	+	3
	76	+	4
	77	+	5
	78	+	6
	79	+	7
	80	+	8
	81	+	9
	82	+	10
	83	+	11 (a) A person may register to vote not less than
	84	+	12 fourteen (14) days before an election, at any election
	85	+	13 specified in W.S. 22-2-101(a)(i) through (viii) or as
	86	+	14 provided by W.S. 22-3-117, who satisfies the following
	87	+	15 qualifications:
	88	+	16
	89	+	17 (i) He is a citizen of the United States. The
	90	+	18
	91	+	19
	92	+	20
	93	+	21
	94	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03225HB0156
6	95		1
7		-	AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a qualified elector
8		-	to be a bona fide resident of the state of Wyoming for not
9		-	less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election
10		-	in which they offer to vote; requiring documentation
11		-	proving residence to register to vote; prohibiting
12		-	registration based on documentation showing noncitizen
13		-	status; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking;
14		-	and providing for effective dates.
15		-	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
16		-	Section 1. W.S. 18-16-102(a)(ix)(E), (F) and by
17		-	creating a new subparagraph (G), 22-1-102(a)(xxvi), (xxvii)
18		-	and by creating new paragraphs (lv) and (lvi),
19		-	22-3-102(a)(i) and by creating a new paragraph (vi),
20		-	22-3-103(a) by creating new paragraphs (ix) and (x) and
21		-	(b), 22-3-117(a)(intro), 22-3-118(a)(ii) and
22		-	22-29-104(a)(v)(E), (F) and by creating a new subparagraph
23		-	(G) are amended to read:
24		-	18-16-102. Definitions.
25		-	(a) As used in this act:
26		-	(ix) "Qualified elector" means a natural person
27		-	who:
28		-	(E) Has not been convicted of a felony or
29		-	if convicted has had his civil rights or voting rights
30		-	restored; and
31		-	(F) Is registered to vote ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
32		-	BILL NO. HB0156
33		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
34		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
35		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
36		-	2 (G) Has been a bona fide resident of
37		-	Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date
38		-	of the election at which he offers to vote.
39		-	22-1-102. Definitions.
40		-	(a) The definitions contained in this chapter apply
41		-	to words and phrases used in this Election Code and govern
42		-	the construction of those words and phrases unless they are
43		-	specifically modified by the context in which they appear.
44		-	As used in this Election Code:
45		-	(xxvi) "Qualified elector" includes every
46		-	citizen of the United States who is a bona fide resident of
47		-	Wyoming,
48		-	less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election
49		-	at which he offers to vote,
50		-	be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the
51		-	election at which he may offer to vote. No person is a
52		-	qualified elector who is a currently adjudicated mentally
53		-	incompetent person, or who has been convicted of a felony
54		-	and his civil or voting rights have not been restored. A
55		-	literacy test shall not be imposed as a condition to voting
56		-	in any election;
57		-	(xxvii) "Registration" is the entry and
58		-	verification of the name, residence, citizenship
59		-	information of a qualified elector on the official registry
60		-	list, as provided in W.S. 22-3-104(f) and 22-3-108;
61		-	(lv) "Proof of residence" means the documents
62		-	or other proof of residence specified by rule of the
63		-	secretary of state, which rule identifies documents or
64		-	other proof that establishes residency. If a person does
65		-	not have the documents or other proof of residency ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
66		-	BILL NO. HB0156
67		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
68		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
69		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	96	+	2;
70	97		3
71		-	specified by rule of the secretary of state, "proof of
72		-	residence" may be established by a signed attestation of
73		-	the person that the person is a bona fide resident of the
74		-	state of Wyoming. The attestation shall be subject to
75		-	verification by the county clerk or the secretary of state;
76		-	(lvi) "Proof of United States citizenship"
77		-	means, for purposes of voter registration, any of the
78		-	following:
79		-	(A) A valid Wyoming driver's license as
80		-	defined by W.S. 31-7-102(a)(xxv) or a valid Wyoming
81		-	identification card issued under W.S. 31-8-101, provided
82		-	that the license or identification card does not contain
83		-	any indication that the person is not a United States
84		-	citizen;
85		-	(B) A valid tribal identification card
86		-	issued by the governing body of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe
87		-	or the Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Indian
88		-	Reservation or any other federally recognized Indian tribe,
89		-	provided that the identification card does not contain any
90		-	indication that the person is not a United States citizen;
91		-	(C) A valid driver's license or
92		-	identification card issued by any other state that is
93		-	consistent with the Real ID Act as defined by W.S.
94		-	31-7-102(a)(lii), provided that the driver's license or
95		-	identification card does not include any indication that
96		-	the person is not a United States citizen;
97		-	(D) A valid United States passport;
98		-	(E) A certificate of United States
99		-	citizenship; ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
100		-	BILL NO. HB0156
101		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
102		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
103		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
104	98		4
105		-	(F) A certificate of naturalization;
106		-	(G) A United States military draft record
107		-	or a selective service registration acknowledgment card;
108		-	(H) A consular report of birth abroad
109		-	issued by the United States department of state;
110		-	(J) An original or certified copy of a
111		-	birth certificate in the United States bearing an official
112		-	seal.
113		-	22-3-102. Qualifications; temporary registration.
114		-	(a) A person may register to vote not less than
115		-	fourteen (14) days before an election, at any election
116		-	specified in W.S. 22-2-101(a)(i) through (viii) or as
117		-	provided by W.S. 22-3-117, who satisfies the following
118		-	qualifications:
119		-	(i) He is a citizen of the United States, as
120		-	evidenced by providing proof of United States citizenship
121		-	as defined by W.S. 22-1-102(a)(lvi);
122		-	(vi) He has been a bona fide resident of Wyoming
123		-	for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the
124		-	election at which he offers to vote.
125		-	22-3-103. Furnishing of oath forms; contents thereof.
126		-	(a) The county clerk shall furnish voter registration
127		-	oath forms to registry agents which forms shall require the
128		-	following voter information from the applicant: ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
129		-	BILL NO. HB0156
130		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
131		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
132		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
133		-	5(ix) Proof of residence as defined in W.S.
134		-	22-1-102(a)(lv);
135		-	(x) Proof of United States citizenship as
136		-	defined by W.S. 22-1-102(a)(lvi).
137		-	(b) Following the provision of the information
138		-	required in subsection (a) of this section, the form shall
139		-	require the applicant's signature in full below the
140		-	following oath:
141		-	I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen
142		-	of the United States; that I am a bona fide resident of the
143		-	state of Wyoming and this county;
144		-	state for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of
145		-	the election; that if registered in another county or
146		-	state, I hereby request that my registration be withdrawn;
147		-	that I will be at least eighteen (18) years of age on or
148		-	before the next election; that I am not currently
149		-	adjudicated a mentally incompetent person, that I have not
150		-	been convicted of a felony, or if I have been convicted of
151		-	a felony, I have had my civil or voting rights restored by
152		-	a competent authority; and that the voter registration
153		-	information contained herein is true and accurate to my
154		-	best knowledge and belief.
155		-	.... (Signature in full of applicant)
156		-	Subscribed and affirmed or sworn to before me by .... this
157		-	.... day of ...., (year).
158		-	.... (Signature and title of registry agent
159		-	or person authorized to administer oaths) ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
160		-	BILL NO. HB0156
161		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
162		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
163		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
164		-	622-3-117. Absentee registration generally; use of
165		-	federal postcard.
166		-	(a) Notwithstanding any other section or provision in
167		-	this chapter, any citizen of the United States who is a
168		-	resident of Wyoming may apply for registration by providing
169		-	the information required by W.S. 22-3-103(a),
170		-	acceptable identification,
171		-	citizenship and proof of residence and
172		-	subscribing, the form of voter registration oath prescribed
173		-	by W.S. 22-3-103(b) before any person authorized by law to
174		-	administer oaths. Each county clerk shall furnish the voter
175		-	registration oath forms. The applicant shall mail or
176		-	return the completed voter registration oath form to the
177		-	county clerk in the county in which the applicant resides.
178		-	In order to vote in the next election, the application must
179		-	be received in the county clerk's office before the close
180		-	of registration for that election, or:
181		-	22-3-118. Proof of identity.
182		-	(a) Unless a voter is challenged pursuant to W.S.
183		-	22-15-101 through 22-15-109, and except as provided in W.S.
184		-	22-9-104(a)(vi) for an absentee ballot obtained in person
185		-	by the elector, no identification shall be required when:
186		-	(ii) Voting by absentee ballot after having
187		-	registered by mail and having submitted a copy of the
188		-	person's acceptable identification,
189		-	citizenship as defined by W.S. 22-1-102(a)(lvi) and proof
190		-	of residence as set forth in W.S. 22-1-102(a)(xxxix)(A)
191		-	(lv), at the time of registration.
192		-	22-29-104. Definitions when principal act is silent. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
193		-	BILL NO. HB0156
194		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
195		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
196		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
197		-	7(a) When used in a principal act, the following
198		-	definitions apply, unless the term is otherwise
199		-	specifically defined in that principal act:
200		-	(v) "Qualified elector" means a natural person
201		-	who:
202		-	(E) Has not been convicted of a felony, or,
203		-	if so convicted, has had his civil or voting rights
204		-	restored; and
205		-	(F) Has registered to vote; and
206		-	(G) Has been a bona fide resident of
207		-	Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date
208		-	of the election at which he offers to vote.
209		-	Section 2. The secretary of state shall promulgate
210		-	all rules necessary to implement this act. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
211		-	BILL NO. HB0156
212		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 57, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
213		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
214		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
215		-	8Section 3.
216		-	(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this
217		-	section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.
218		-	(b) Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective
219		-	immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a
220		-	bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of
221		-	the Wyoming Constitution.
222		-	(END)
223		-	Speaker of the HousePresident of the SenateGovernorTIME APPROVED: _________DATE APPROVED: _________
224		-	I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
225		-	Chief Clerk
	99	+	5
	100	+	6
	101	+	7
	102	+	8
	103	+	9
	104	+	10 (a) The county clerk shall furnish voter registration
	105	+	11 oath forms to registry agents which forms shall require the
	106	+	12 following voter information from the applicant:
	107	+	13
	108	+	14
	109	+	15
	110	+	16
	111	+	17 (b) Following the provision of the information
	112	+	18 required in subsection (a) of this section, the form shall
	113	+	19 require the applicant's signature in full below the
	114	+	20 following oath:
	115	+	21
	116	+	22 I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen
	117	+	23 of the United States; that I am a bona fide resident of the 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03226HB0156
	118	+	1 state of Wyoming and this county;
	119	+	2
	120	+	3 that if registered in another county or
	121	+	4 state, I hereby request that my registration be withdrawn;
	122	+	5 that I will be at least eighteen (18) years of age on or
	123	+	6 before the next election; that I am not currently
	124	+	7 adjudicated a mentally incompetent person, that I have not
	125	+	8 been convicted of a felony, or if I have been convicted of
	126	+	9 a felony, I have had my civil or voting rights restored by
	127	+	10 a competent authority; and that the voter registration
	128	+	11 information contained herein is true and accurate to my
	129	+	12 best knowledge and belief.
	130	+	13
	131	+	14 .... (Signature in full of applicant)
	132	+	15
	133	+	16 Subscribed and affirmed or sworn to before me by .... this
	134	+	17 .... day of ...., (year).
	135	+	18
	136	+	19 .... (Signature and title of registry agent
	137	+	20
	138	+	21 or person authorized to administer oaths)
	139	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03227HB01561
	140	+	2
	141	+	3
	142	+	4 (a) Notwithstanding any other section or provision in
	143	+	5 this chapter, any citizen of the United States who is a
	144	+	6 resident of Wyoming may apply for registration by providing
	145	+	7 the information required by W.S. 22-3-103(a),
	146	+	8 acceptable identification and
	147	+	9 completing and subscribing, the form of voter registration
	148	+	10 oath prescribed by W.S. 22-3-103(b) before any person
	149	+	11 authorized by law to administer oaths. Each county clerk
	150	+	12 shall furnish the voter registration oath forms. The
	151	+	13 applicant shall mail or return the completed voter
	152	+	14 registration oath form to the county clerk in the county in
	153	+	15 which the applicant resides. In order to vote in the next
	154	+	16 election, the application must be received in the county
	155	+	17 clerk's office before the close of registration for that
	156	+	18 election, or:
	157	+	19
	158	+	20
	159	+	21
	160	+	22 (a) Unless a voter is challenged pursuant to W.S.
	161	+	23 22-15-101 through 22-15-109, and except as provided in W.S. 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03228HB0156
	162	+	1 22-9-104(a)(vi) for an absentee ballot obtained in person
	163	+	2 by the elector, no identification shall be required when:
	164	+	3
	165	+	4 (ii) Voting by absentee ballot after having
	166	+	5 registered by mail and having submitted a copy of the
	167	+	6 person's acceptable identification
	168	+	7 as set forth in W.S. 22-1-102(a)(xxxix)(A) , at the
	169	+	8 time of registration.
	170	+	9
	171	+	10
	172	+	11
	173	+	12 (a) When used in a principal act, the following
	174	+	13 definitions apply, unless the term is otherwise
	175	+	14 specifically defined in that principal act:
	176	+	15
	177	+	16 (v) "Qualified elector" means a natural person
	178	+	17 who:
	179	+	18
	180	+	19 (E) Has not been convicted of a felony, or,
	181	+	20 if so convicted, has had his civil or voting rights
	182	+	21 restored; and
	183	+	22
	184	+	23 (F) Has registered to vote; and 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-03229HB0156
	185	+	1
	186	+	2
	187	+	3
	188	+	4.
	189	+	5
	190	+	6The secretary of state shall promulgate
	191	+	7 all rules necessary to implement this act.
	192	+	8
	193	+	9.
	194	+	10
	195	+	11 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this
	196	+	12 section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.
	197	+	13
	198	+	14 (b) Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective
	199	+	15 immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a
	200	+	16 bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of
	201	+	17 the Wyoming Constitution.
	202	+	18
	203	+	19 (END)