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HB0136 • 2021

Inclusive ballot language.

AN ACT relating to elections; amending the use of pronouns on the ballot; and providing for an effective date.

Elections
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Representative Yin
Last action
2021-04-12
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary does not provide information on whether the law ensures voters can write names of any gender, only that 'his' is replaced with 'the person's'.

Inclusive Ballot Language

This law changes the language on primary ballots to be more inclusive by replacing 'his' with 'the person's'.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the wording on primary election ballots.
  • Replaces the word 'his' with 'the person's' in instructions for voting.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who participate in primary elections.
  • Election officials responsible for printing ballots.

Terms To Know

Primary ballot
The official list of candidates and issues that voters choose from during a primary election.
Gender-neutral language
Language that does not assume or imply gender, making it inclusive for all genders.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not change other parts of the ballot or voting process.
  • Only affects primary elections in Wyoming.
  • The law's impact on voter understanding and participation is unknown.

Amendments

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

HB0136H3001

3rd reading • Representative Flitner

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the ballot language to use 'their' instead of specifying a gender pronoun like 'his' or 'her'.

  • Replaces 'the person's' with 'their' on election ballots.
  • The exact impact and context where this change will be applied are not detailed in the amendment text provided.
HB0136S2001

2nd reading • Senator Ellis

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the word 'their' to 'the person's' in a section of election-related law.

  • Replaces the pronoun 'their' with 'the person's' in the bill text.
  • The exact context and impact of this change on ballot language is not specified, making it unclear how it will affect elections.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-12 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 145

  2. 2021-04-12 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0081

  3. 2021-04-06 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0081

  4. 2021-04-06 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0081

  5. 2021-04-06 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0081

  6. 2021-04-06 House

    H Concur:Passed 38-19-3-0-0

  7. 2021-04-06 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2021-04-02 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-2-2-0-0

  9. 2021-04-02 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S08 - Transportation:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  13. 2021-03-31 Senate

    :Refer to S08 - Transportation

  14. 2021-03-18 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations

  15. 2021-03-18 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  16. 2021-03-17 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 40-20-0-0-0

  17. 2021-03-12 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  18. 2021-03-11 House

    H COW:Passed

  19. 2021-03-04 House

    H Placed on General File

  20. 2021-03-04 House

    H07 - Corporations:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  21. 2021-03-01 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations

  22. 2021-02-24 House

    H Received for Introduction

  23. 2021-02-22 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0203
Bill No.:

HB0136

Effective:

7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

21LSO-0203

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0081

Chapter No.:

145

Prime Sponsor:

Yin

Catch Title:

Inclusive ballot language.

Subject:

Replaces "his" with "the person's" in primary ballot language.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act revises language used on primary ballots by replacing the masculine possessive "his" with the gender-neutral possessive "the person's." The possessive adjective at issue modifies the word "name" in the primary ballot language.
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-0203

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0136

ENROLLED ACT NO. 81,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

AN ACT relating to elections; amending the use of pronouns on the ballot; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 22
‑
6
‑
119(a)(iii) is amended to read:

22
‑
6
‑
119.

Format of primary ballot.

(a)

The primary ballot of each major political party shall be printed in substantial compliance with this format:

(iii)

On the second line shall be printed the following instructions: "To vote for a person whose name is printed on the ballot, mark the square immediately adjacent to the name of the person for whom you desire to vote. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot, write
his
the person's
name in the blank space provided for that purpose and mark the square immediately adjacent to the name of the person.";

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

1