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Wyoming2022Did Not Pass

SF0097

Change in Party Affiliation

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM

In one sentence

This act revises how electors can change their political party affiliation before and during elections.

What it does

  • Allows electors to request a change of party affiliation at any time except for the period when changing parties is prohibited as specified by law.
  • Requires an elector requesting a major party ballot to declare or change their party affiliation in accordance with W.S. 22-5-214 before receiving that ballot.
  • Permits electors to change their party affiliation by signing and filing an application with the county clerk either before or on election day, as specified for primary and general elections.

Who it affects

  • Registered voters who want to change their political party affiliation.
  • Political parties that can choose whether to allow changes in party affiliation year-round if they notify the Secretary of State.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not considered by the House Committee of the Whole.
  • It is unclear how many political parties will opt to allow year-round changes in affiliation.
  • The exact period when changing party affiliations is prohibited remains unspecified.

Plain language

Terms to know

Elector
A person who is eligible to vote in an election.
Primary Election
An initial election where voters choose candidates for a political party's nomination.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 11:22 AM

Cale Case

R · S25

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill, arguing it restricts voter choice by preventing people from changing their party affiliation after seeing candidates, which they believe undermines a party of ideas.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:21:48 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it lacks any reference to a political platform, which they believe is essential for deciding party affiliation and candidate selection.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:27:57 Watch the statement

Tim Salazar

R · S26

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because they do not believe the current system is broken or needs fixing, and notes that county clerks dislike the proposed changes.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:39:56 Watch the statement

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

7 roll calls

H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Not Pass 5-2-0-0-02022-03-07 · House5 yes 2 no
Yes
5
No
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mark S KinnerH29Thomas J WaltersH38

No 2

Clark D StithH48Evan J SimpsonH21
S 3rd Reading:Passed 18-12-0-0-02022-02-25 · Senate18 yes 12 no
Yes
18
No
12
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 18

Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Ed CooperR · S20Jeff WasserburgerS23John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Ogden DriskillR · S01Tara NethercottR · S04Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24

No 12

Bill LandenR · S27Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan FurphyS10Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Jim AndersonR · S28Mike GierauD · S17RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Wendy SchulerR · S15
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02022-02-23 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Anthony BouchardS06Brian BonerR · S02Jeff WasserburgerS23RJ KostS19Tim FrenchR · S18
S Motion to Rerefer Pursuant to SR 8-6 Passed by Roll Call 17-12-1-0-02022-02-21 · Senate17 yes 12 no
Yes
17
No
12
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 17

Anthony BouchardS06Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Ed CooperR · S20John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24Wendy SchulerR · S15

No 12

Bill LandenR · S27Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan FurphyS10Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04

Excused 1

Affie EllisS08
S Motion to Rerefer Pursuant to SR 8-6 Failed by Roll Call 13-17-0-0-02022-02-21 · Senate13 yes 17 no
Yes
13
No
17
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 13

Anthony BouchardS06Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Jeff WasserburgerS23Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24

No 17

Affie EllisS08Bill LandenR · S27Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan FurphyS10Drew A PerkinsS29Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jim AndersonR · S28John KolbR · S12Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Wendy SchulerR · S15
S Bill Reconsideration Motion Passed by Roll Call 16-13-1-0-02022-02-21 · Senate16 yes 13 no
Yes
16
No
13
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 16

Anthony BouchardS06Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Ed CooperR · S20John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Ogden DriskillR · S01Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24Wendy SchulerR · S15

No 13

Bill LandenR · S27Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan FurphyS10Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28Mike GierauD · S17RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04

Excused 1

Affie EllisS08
S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations 20-10-0-0-02022-02-17 · Senate20 yes 10 no
Yes
20
No
10
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 20

Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan FurphyS10David A KinskeyS22Ed CooperR · S20Jeff WasserburgerS23John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Ogden DriskillR · S01Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24

No 10

Bill LandenR · S27Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Jim AndersonR · S28Mike GierauD · S17RJ KostS19Wendy SchulerR · S15

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H COW:H Did not consider for COWHouse
  2. H Placed on General FileHouse
  3. H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Not Pass 5-2-0-0-0House
  4. H Introduced and Referred to H02 - AppropriationsHouse
  5. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  6. S 3rd Reading:Passed 18-12-0-0-0Senate
  7. S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
  8. S COW:PassedSenate
  9. S Placed on General FileSenate
  10. S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
  11. :Rerefer to S05 - AgricultureSenate
  12. S Motion to Rerefer Pursuant to SR 8-6 Failed by Roll Call 13-17-0-0-0Senate
  13. S Bill Reconsideration Motion Passed by Roll Call 16-13-1-0-0Senate
  14. S Motion to Rerefer Pursuant to SR 8-6 Passed by Roll Call 17-12-1-0-0Senate
  15. S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations 20-10-0-0-0Senate
  16. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  17. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

3 stored

SF0097S3001

The amendment modifies the rules for changing political party affiliations by adding conditions and exceptions based on specific state laws and allowing parties to opt out of certain limitations.

SF0097S3002

The amendment removes a specific reference to Wyoming Statute 22-5-209 and replaces it with a new reference to Wyoming Statute 22-9-107 regarding absentee ballots.

SF0097SS001

The amendment changes the timing requirement for electors to change their political party affiliation.