SF0097 • 2022

Change in party affiliation.

AN ACT relating to elections; revising provisions relating to political party affiliation changes by electors; and providing for an effective date.

Elections

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Senator Biteman
Last action: 2022-03-08
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not considered by the House Committee of the Whole, limiting its impact.

Change in Party Affiliation

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

What This Bill 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 Names or 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.

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.

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.

Amendments

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

SF0097S3001

3rd reading • Senator Rothfuss

Failed

Plain English: 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.

Adds a condition that the prohibition in W.S. 22-5-214 applies when an elector is declaring their party affiliation.
Inserts an exception clause before subsection (a) stating that other provisions in this section apply unless otherwise specified.
Allows political parties to opt out of limitations on changing affiliations by notifying the secretary of state, enabling members to change affiliations at any time if the party has opted out.

The exact form and manner for opting out are not detailed in this amendment text.
Some technical references may require additional context or explanation from existing laws.

SF0097S3002

3rd reading • Senator Perkins

Withdrawn

Plain English: 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.

Removes the phrase 'under W.S. 22-5-209.' from the bill text.
Inserts the phrase 'absentee ballots may be distributed pursuant to W.S. 22-9-107.' in its place.

The amendment does not provide additional context about how these changes will affect absentee ballot distribution processes, which could leave readers unsure of the practical implications.

SF0097SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water

Adopted

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

Removes the phrase 'not later than' from the existing rule and replaces it with 'prior to'.

The exact impact of this wording change is not fully explained in the provided amendment text.

Bill History

2022-03-08 House
H COW:H Did not consider for COW
2022-03-07 House
H Placed on General File
2022-03-07 House
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Not Pass 5-2-0-0-0
2022-03-02 House
H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations
2022-02-28 House
H Received for Introduction
2022-02-25 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 18-12-0-0-0
2022-02-24 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2022-02-23 Senate
S COW:Passed
2022-02-23 Senate
S Placed on General File
2022-02-23 Senate
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2022-02-21 Senate
:Rerefer to S05 - Agriculture
2022-02-21 Senate
S Motion to Rerefer Pursuant to SR 8-6 Failed by Roll Call 13-17-0-0-0
2022-02-21 Senate
S Bill Reconsideration Motion Passed by Roll Call 16-13-1-0-0
2022-02-21 Senate
S Motion to Rerefer Pursuant to SR 8-6 Passed by Roll Call 17-12-1-0-0
2022-02-17 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations 20-10-0-0-0
2022-02-15 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2022-02-15 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

22LSO-0305
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0305
ENGROSSED
3.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0097

Change in party affiliation.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Biteman, Boner, Bouchard, Driskill, French, Hicks, Hutchings, McKeown, Salazar and Steinmetz and Representative(s) Gray, Haroldson, Jennings, Laursen and Neiman

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; revising provisions relating to political party affiliation changes by electors; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 22-3-115(a)(vi), 22
‑
5
‑
212 and 22
‑
5
‑
214 are amended to read:

22-3-115.

Grounds for cancellation of registration.

(a)

A registered elector's registration shall be cancelled for any one (1) of the following reasons:

(vi)

Upon written request of the elector
at any time except for the period for which party changes are prohibited as specified in W.S. 22-5-214
.

22
‑
5
‑
212.

When declaration of party affiliation required.

An elector requesting a major party ballot
must
shall
declare
his
or change
party affiliation
, or sign an application for change of affiliation

in accordance with W.S. 22
‑
5
‑
214
before
he may receive
receiving
a party ballot. An elector may vote only the nonpartisan ballot and if so, is not required to declare his party affiliation. Requesting a partisan primary election ballot constitutes a declaration of party affiliation. A change in declaration of party affiliation
shall be in accordance with the requirements of W.S. 22
‑
5
‑
214 and
shall be entered on the poll list by the election judge.

22
‑
5
‑
214.

Change in party affiliation.

(a)

For a primary election, an elector may declare or change party affiliation by completing an application
signed before a notarial officer or election official and filing it with the county clerk prior to the first day on which an application for nomination may be filed under W.S. 22-5-209.

(b)

For a general election, a
n elector may
declare or
change
his
party affiliation by completing an application signed

before a notarial officer or election official, and filing it with the county clerk
after the primary election and
not less than fourteen (14) days before the
primary
general
election or at the polls on the day of the
primary or
general election, or when requesting an absentee ballot
for the general election
.

Section 2
.

This act is
effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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