Back to Wyoming

HB0005 • 2023

Voter registry list-voter ID and absentee ballots.

AN ACT relating to elections; amending the definition of registry list to include voter identification numbers, absentee ballot status and registration dates; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Elections
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Corporations
Last action
2023-02-21
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify if or how the unique identifying numbers will be used by election officials or made publicly available. It also does not provide information on security measures for these new identifiers.

Voter Registry List Changes

This law updates voter registry lists to include unique identifying numbers, absentee ballot status information, and registration dates.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a unique identifying number for each voter that the state creates.
  • Includes whether a voter has requested an absentee ballot in their record.
  • Records when voters register to vote.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who are registered or will be registering in the future.
  • Election officials responsible for maintaining voter records.

Terms To Know

Registry list
A list of all voters in a county, including their names and addresses.
Absentee ballot status
Information about whether a voter has requested an absentee ballot for voting by mail.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how the unique identifying numbers will be used or what security measures will protect them.
  • It is unclear if and how this change might affect voter privacy beyond the current protections in place.

Amendments

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

HB0005HS001

Standing Committee • House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivis

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the definition of registry list by adding voter identification numbers, absentee ballot status, and registration dates.

  • Adds voter identification numbers to the registry list.
  • Includes absentee ballot status in the registry list.
  • Includes registration dates in the registry list.
HB0005SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivi

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the voter registry list to include the date of registration instead of registration status information and removes a specific section related to absentee ballot status.

  • Replaces 'Information relating to registration status' with 'Date of registration' in the voter registry list.
  • Removes Section 2, which was previously part of W.S. 22-3-108(b)(iii).
  • The amendment does not specify what information will replace the removed section or how it affects absentee ballot status.

Bill History

  1. 2023-02-21 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 67

  2. 2023-02-21 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0030

  3. 2023-02-17 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0030

  4. 2023-02-16 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0030

  5. 2023-02-15 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0030

  6. 2023-02-15 House

    H Concur:Passed 55-0-7-0-0

  7. 2023-02-14 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2023-02-14 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0

  9. 2023-02-13 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2023-02-09 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2023-02-09 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2023-02-09 Senate

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

  13. 2023-02-02 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations

  14. 2023-01-17 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  15. 2023-01-17 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 60-0-2-0-0

  16. 2023-01-16 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  17. 2023-01-13 House

    H COW:Passed

  18. 2023-01-12 House

    H Placed on General File

  19. 2023-01-12 House

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

  20. 2023-01-10 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations

  21. 2023-01-06 House

    H Received for Introduction

  22. 2022-11-30 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 23LSO-0190
Bill No.:

HB0005

Effective:

7/1/2023

LSO No.:

23LSO-0190

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0030

Chapter No.:

67

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Voter registry list-voter ID and absentee ballots.

Subject:

Voter registry list and election records

Summary/Major Elements:

This act amends the definition of the voter registry list and requires the voter registry list to include unique voter identifying numbers generated by the state, information relating to absentee ballot status and voter registration dates.

This act adds unique identifying numbers generated by the state to the listed items contained in an election record that may be available and disseminated to the public.

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
23LSO-0190

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0005

ENROLLED ACT NO. 30,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to elections; amending the definition of registry list to include voter identification numbers, absentee ballot status and registration dates; 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)(xxix), 22
‑
2
‑
113(d) and 22
‑
3
‑
108(a)(vi) and by creating new paragraphs (viii) through (x) are amended to read:

22
‑
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:

(xxix)

"Registry list" is the list by precinct of the names, addresses, party affiliations
, unique identifying numbers generated by the state, information relating to absentee ballot status, registration dates
and precinct and district numbers of the registered electors in the county prepared by the secretary of state or county clerks for distribution as provided in W.S. 22
‑
2
‑
113;

22
‑
2
‑
113.

Availability and form of registry lists; use of copies; election record; purging.

(d)

Unless otherwise specifically stated in this Election Code, all election records of the county clerk are public.

The availability and dissemination of such records shall be in accordance with the Wyoming Public Records Act. Election records containing social security numbers, portions of social security numbers, driver's license numbers, birth dates, telephone numbers, tribal identification card numbers, e
‑
mail addresses and other personally identifiable information other than names, gender, addresses
,

unique identifying numbers generated by the state
and party affiliations are not public records and shall be kept confidential.

When necessary, members of the county or state canvassing boards may access confidential information for purposes of this code but shall maintain its confidentiality.

22
‑
3
‑
108.

Official registry list information.

(a)

The official registry list shall contain at least the following information as to each registered elector:

(vi)

Date of birth;
and

(viii)

A unique identifying number generated by the state;

(ix)

Information relating to absentee ballot status; and

(x)

Date of registration.

Section 2.

W.S. 22-3-108(b)(iii) is repealed.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(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