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HB0075 • 2021

Voter identification.

AN ACT relating to elections; modifying the definition of acceptable identification; requiring that acceptable identification be presented before voting in person; providing that provisional ballots may be cast as specified; providing that in person voters may be challenged for failure to present acceptable identification; modifying requirements of the department of transportation related to identification cards as specified; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Education Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Gray
Last action
2021-04-06
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact consequences for voters who do not present proper ID.

Voter Identification Requirements

This law requires voters to show acceptable identification before voting in person and allows provisional ballots for those who cannot provide ID.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires voters to present a form of acceptable identification before voting at polling places or absentee polling places.
  • Acceptable forms of identification include state, tribal, federal government IDs, Wyoming higher education institution photo IDs, Medicare and Medicaid cards, and U.S. military IDs.
  • Voters without proper ID can cast provisional ballots but may face challenges during the voting process.
  • The Department of Transportation must waive fees for those requesting an ID card solely for voter identification purposes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who vote in person at polling places or absentee polling places
  • Department of Transportation responsible for issuing identification cards

Terms To Know

Acceptable Identification
A form of ID that meets the requirements set by law to be used when voting.
Provisional Ballot
A ballot given to voters who cannot provide acceptable identification but still wish to vote.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences for those who fail to present proper ID.
  • It is unclear how this law will affect voter turnout or election integrity.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0075H2001

2nd reading • Representative Sommers

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment modifies voter identification requirements and adds new provisions for fees related to obtaining identification cards.

  • Removes the requirement that acceptable identification must include a photograph, signature, and physical description.
  • Adds a new section requiring applicants to pay certain fees for identification cards unless they are requesting one specifically for voting purposes.
  • Modifies transportation department requirements regarding identification cards.
  • The amendment text does not provide full details on how the changes will be implemented or enforced, which may require additional context from the bill itself.
HB0075H2002

2nd reading • Representative Zwonitzer

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds new types of photo identification that voters can use to vote in person.

  • Adds driver's licenses and ID cards from any U.S. state or territory as acceptable forms of voter identification.
  • Includes photo IDs issued by the University of Wyoming, community colleges, and public schools in Wyoming as valid for voting.
HB0075H3001

3rd reading • Representative Clifford

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment proposes to remove a specific line from the bill that relates to voter identification requirements.

  • Removes a particular line from the bill text.
  • The exact content and implications of the removed line are not provided, making it hard to explain its full impact.
HB0075HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Harshman

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the catch title of HB0075 from 'Voter identification fraud-prevention' to 'Voter identification'.

  • Removes the phrase 'fraud-prevention' from the bill's catch title.
  • This change only affects the wording of the catch title and does not alter any other part of the bill or its content.
HB0075HS001

Standing Committee • House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivis

Divided

Plain English: The amendment adds new types of identification that voters can use to vote in person, including IDs from certain Native American tribes and educational institutions.

  • Adds acceptable voter ID options for the Eastern Shoshone tribe and Northern Arapaho tribe of Wyoming, as well as other federally recognized Indian tribes.
  • Includes driver's licenses or identification cards issued by any U.S. state or outlying possession in the list of acceptable IDs.
  • Adds photo identification from the University of Wyoming, community colleges, and public schools to the list of acceptable voter IDs.
  • The amendment does not specify all possible changes to the original bill's requirements for voter identification.
HB0075HS001.01

Standing Committee • House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivis

Corrected, Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the definition of acceptable identification for voting to include IDs issued by specific Native American tribes in Wyoming.

  • Removes the word 'that' from the existing text.
  • Adds a new clause that includes IDs issued by the Eastern Shoshone tribe, Northern Arapaho tribe, and other federally recognized Indian tribes of Wyoming as acceptable identification for voting.
  • The amendment does not specify which other federally recognized Indian tribes besides the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho are included.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect voter registration processes or what specific requirements these IDs must meet to be considered acceptable identification.
HB0075HS001.02

Standing Committee • House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivis

Corrected, Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds new types of photo identification that voters can use to vote in person.

  • Adds driver's licenses or identification cards issued by any state or outlying possession of the United States as acceptable forms of ID for voting.
  • Includes photo IDs issued by the University of Wyoming, a Wyoming community college, or a Wyoming public school as valid voter identification.
  • The amendment does not specify if there are any limits on how these new types of IDs can be used.
HB0075SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivi

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new type of acceptable identification for voting: a valid Medicaid insurance card.

  • Adds a provision allowing voters to use a valid Medicaid insurance card as an acceptable form of identification when voting in person.
  • The amendment specifies that this provision will be repealed on December 31, 2029, but does not provide details about what forms of ID will replace it after that date.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-06 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 114

  2. 2021-04-06 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0072

  3. 2021-04-02 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0072

  4. 2021-04-01 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0072

  5. 2021-04-01 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0072

  6. 2021-04-01 House

    H Concur:Passed 51-8-1-0-0

  7. 2021-04-01 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 28-2-0-0-0

  9. 2021-03-31 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2021-03-30 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2021-03-30 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2021-03-30 Senate

    S07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0

  13. 2021-03-17 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations

  14. 2021-03-04 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  15. 2021-03-03 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 51-9-0-0-0

  16. 2021-03-02 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  17. 2021-03-01 House

    H COW:Passed

  18. 2021-03-01 House

    H Placed on General File

  19. 2021-03-01 House

    H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0

  20. 2021-02-04 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations

  21. 2021-01-21 House

    H Received for Introduction

  22. 2021-01-20 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0192
Bill No.:

HB0075

Effective:

7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

21LSO-0192

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0072

Chapter No.:

114

Prime Sponsor:

Gray

Catch Title:

Voter identification.

Subject:

Requires voters to present acceptable identification before in-person voting
.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act requires voters to present a form of acceptable identification before in-person voting at a polling place
or absentee polling place
.

Forms of acceptable identification include valid forms of photo identification issued by a state, tribal or federal government, a Wyoming higher educational institution or public school, and Medicare and Medicaid insurance cards.

Voters who do not present acceptable identification may cast provisional ballots.

Further, this act requires the Department of Transportation
to waive the fee on identification cards if the card is to be used only for the purpose of voter identification.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
21LSO-0192

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0075

ENROLLED ACT NO. 72,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to elections; modifying the definition of acceptable identification; requiring that acceptable identification be presented before voting in person; providing that provisional ballots may be cast as specified; providing that in person voters may be challenged for failure to present acceptable identification; modifying requirements of the department of transportation related to identification cards as specified; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(xxxix), 22
‑
2
‑
119, 22
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3
‑
118(a)(i) and (ii), 22
‑
15
‑
104(a) by creating a new paragraph (vi), 31
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8
‑
103(d) and 31
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8
‑
104 are amended to read:

22
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1
‑
102.

Definitions.

(a)

The definitions contained in this chapter apply to words and phrases used in this Election Code and govern the construction of those words and phrases unless they are specifically modified by the context in which they appear. As used in this Election Code:

(xxxix)

"Acceptable identification" means
:

(A)

For purposes of voter registration,
one (1) of the identification documents or other proof of identity as specified by rule of the secretary of state as adequate proof of the identity of a voter;

(B)

For purposes of in person voter identification immediately before voting at a polling place or absentee polling place, any of the following:

(I)

A Wyoming driver's license as defined by W.S. 31
‑
7
‑
102(a)(xxv);

(II)

A tribal identification card issued by the governing body of the Eastern Shoshone tribe of Wyoming, the Northern Arapaho tribe of Wyoming or other federally recognized Indian tribe;

(III)

A Wyoming identification card issued under W.S. 31
‑
8
‑
101;

(IV)

A valid United States passport;

(V)

A United States military card;

(VI)

A driver's license or identification card issued by any state or outlying possession of the United States;

(VII)

Photo identification issued by the University of Wyoming, a Wyoming community college or a Wyoming public school;

(VIII)

A valid Medicare insurance card. This subdivision is repealed effective December 31, 2029;

(IX) A valid Medicaid insurance card. This subdivision is repealed effective December 31, 2029.

22
‑
2
‑
119.

Qualified elector may vote; acceptable identification requirement; provisional ballots.

Except as specifically provided otherwise
,
a person may vote only if
he
the person
is a qualified elector
,

and
only in the precinct in which
he
the person
resides
and, if voting in person, only if the person presents acceptable identification immediately before voting at the polling place or absentee polling place
.
If a person is unable to present acceptable identification immediately before voting at the polling place or absentee polling place, the person may vote by provisional ballot pursuant to W.S. 22
‑
15
‑
105.

22
‑
3
‑
118.

Proof of identity.

(a)

Unless a voter is challenged pursuant to W.S. 22
‑
15
‑
101 through 22
‑
15
‑
109, no identification shall be required when:

(i)

Voting
in person or
by
mail
absentee ballot
after having registered in person; or

(ii)

Voting
in person or
by
mail
absentee ballot
after having registered by mail and having submitted a copy of the person's acceptable identification, as set forth in W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(xxxix)
(A)
, at the time of registration.

22
‑
15
‑
104.

Grounds for challenge.

(a)

A person offering to vote may be challenged for the following reasons:

(vi)

For in person voting, failure to present acceptable identification immediately before voting at the polling place or absentee polling place.

31
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8
‑
103.

Expiration; records; new cards.

(d)

The division shall send a notification for an identification card to the last known address of every eligible registrant, or notify by electronic means if the eligible registrant has consented to receive notices electronically, within one hundred twenty (120) days prior to expiration of the registrant's identification card.
The notification shall conspicuously advise registrants of the requirement that in person voters present acceptable identification immediately before voting at the polling place or absentee polling place and that an identification card is a form of acceptable identification.
Every identification card is renewable upon application and payment of the required fee. As used in this section, "last known address" means the address, email address or other electronic contact information, as applicable according to the sending method, on file with the division.

31
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8
‑
104.

Fees.

Every applicant for an identification card shall pay ten dollars ($10.00) to the department plus an additional ten dollars ($10.00) for a digital identification card if applicable.

This fee shall be waived if the applicant requests an identification card that shall be used only for voter identification purposes.
The state treasurer shall credit identification card fees to the highway fund. Identification cards, including digital identification cards, issued as a result of the cancellation of a license under W.S. 31
‑
7
‑
122(a)(i) shall be issued without payment of any fee.

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2021.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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