HB0055 • 2023

Election ballot order and party affiliation.

AN ACT relating to elections; amending the process to determine the position of candidates on the general election ballot; allowing independent candidates to list a party affiliation; 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: Corporations
Last action: 2023-01-17
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and digest do not provide additional details beyond what is in the bill text.

Election Ballot Order and Party Affiliation

This act proposes changes to how candidate names are listed on election ballots in Wyoming, including allowing independent candidates to list a party affiliation.

What This Bill Does

Changes the way candidate names appear on general election ballots.
Allows independent candidates to list their preferred party affiliation next to their name on the ballot.

Who It Names or Affects

Voters who will see changes in how candidate names and party affiliations are displayed on ballots.
Independent candidates who can now list a preferred party affiliation next to their name.

Terms To Know

Partisan: Relating to or supporting a political party.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and therefore its provisions will not take effect.
It is unclear if there are specific rules for provisional parties beyond what was stated.

Amendments

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

HB0055HS001

Standing Committee • House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivis

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes references to party affiliation in the bill's title and text.

Removes 'and party affiliation' from the catch title of HB0055.
Deletes language allowing independent candidates to list a party affiliation.
Modifies wording related to determining ballot position for candidates.

The amendment text does not provide full context, so some details about the original bill's provisions are unclear.

Bill History

2023-01-17 House
H COW:Failed 12-49-1-0-0
2023-01-16 House
H Placed on General File
2023-01-16 House
H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-3-1-0-0
2023-01-12 House
H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations
2023-01-06 House
H Received for Introduction
2022-12-19 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

23LSO-0148
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0148
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0055

Election ballot order and party affiliation.

Sponsored by: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

A BILL

for

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 22
‑
6
‑
120(a)(vii) and 22
‑
6
‑
121(a)(intro) are amended to read:

22
‑
6
‑
120.

Format of general election ballot.

(a)

The general election ballot shall be printed in substantial compliance with this format:

(vii)

The names of partisan party candidates, if candidates have filed, and independent candidates, if candidates have filed, shall be printed in a
separate
column or columns, row or rows, and the name of the party represented or the word "Independent" shall be printed directly above the candidate's name or at the end of the row.
If there are a number of candidates representing a party, or independents, the county clerk at his discretion may designate a separate vertical column or columns, or row or rows to said candidates and print the name of said party or
An independent candidate may choose to list their party affiliation on the ballot after
the word "Independent"
;
at the top of the column or beginning of the row;

22
‑
6
‑
121.

Order of candidates' names.

(a)

Political party position shall be determined on the general election ballot according to the number of votes received by each party within the county for the office of representative in congress at the last preceding general election.

The party receiving the highest number of votes shall appear first following the names of the offices to be voted for and other parties shall follow in the order of their respective numbers of such votes.

The order of any provisional parties will be drawn by the secretary of state.

Any independent
For the general election ballot, the names of
candidates
shall appear following the last party and
shall be
listed in alphabetical order, subject to rotation.

When more than one (1) candidate is to be elected to a particular office, the names of candidates shall be printed in alphabetical order, subject to rotation, on all ballots for electronic and machine voting systems as defined by W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102
rotated as set forth in W.S. 22
‑
6
‑
122
.

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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HB0055