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HB0038 • 2024

Voter qualifications-durational residency requirement.

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a qualified elector to be a bona fide resident of the state of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election in which they offer to vote; providing an exception for electors otherwise qualified to vote for president and vice president of the United States; making conforming changes; 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
2024-02-23
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law, so its provisions do not apply.

Voter Residency Requirement in Wyoming

This act requires voters in Wyoming to be residents of the state for at least 30 days before an election, with exceptions for presidential elections.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a person to have lived in Wyoming for at least 30 days before voting in any election.
  • Allows people who meet all other qualifications but haven't been in Wyoming for 30 days to vote only for president and vice president during presidential elections.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to vote in Wyoming elections
  • Election officials responsible for enforcing voter qualifications

Terms To Know

Qualified elector
A person who meets all the requirements set by law to be allowed to vote.
Bona fide resident
Someone who lives in a place as their main home, not just temporarily or for short stays.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It does not specify what happens if someone moves to Wyoming shortly before an election but meets all other requirements.
  • There are no details on how the residency requirement will be enforced or checked.

Amendments

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

HB0038HS001

Standing Committee • House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivis

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes the effective date of HB0038 to July 1, 2024.

  • Changes the effective date of the bill from its current unspecified date to July 1, 2024.
  • The amendment does not provide details about why this specific date was chosen or what happens if the bill is passed after July 1, 2024.

Bill History

  1. 2024-02-23 House

    H COW:H Did not consider for COW

  2. 2024-02-21 House

    H Placed on General File

  3. 2024-02-21 House

    H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0

  4. 2024-02-12 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations 55-5-2-0-0

  5. 2024-01-24 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2024-01-03 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
24LSO-0091
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0091
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0038

Voter qualifications-durational residency requirement.

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

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a qualified elector to be a bona fide resident of the state of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election in which they offer to vote; providing an exception for electors otherwise qualified to vote for president and vice president of the United States; making conforming changes; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 18
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16
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102(a)(ix)(E), (F) and by creating a new subparagraph (G), 22
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1
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102(a)(xxvi), 22
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3
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102(a) by creating a new paragraph (vi) and by creating a new subsection (f), 22
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3
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103(b) and 22
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29
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104(a)(v)(E), (F) and by creating a new subparagraph (G) are amended to read:

18
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16
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102.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(ix)

"Qualified elector" means a natural person who:

(E)

Has not been convicted of a felony or if convicted has had his civil rights or voting rights restored;
and

(F)

Is registered to vote
; and

(G)

Has been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election at which he offers to vote
.

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:

(xxvi)

"Qualified elector" includes every citizen of the United States who is a bona fide resident of Wyoming,
has been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election at which he offers to vote,
has registered to vote and will be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election at which he may offer to vote. No person is a qualified elector who is a currently adjudicated mentally incompetent person, or who has been convicted of a felony and his civil or voting rights have not been restored. A literacy test shall not be imposed as a condition to voting in any election;

22
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3
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102.

Qualifications; temporary registration.

(a)

A person may register to vote not less than fourteen (14) days before an election, at any election specified in W.S. 22
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2
‑
101(a)(i) through (viii) or as provided by W.S. 22
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3
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117, who satisfies the following qualifications:

(vi)

He has been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election at which he offers to vote.

(f)

Any elector who meets all of the qualifications of subsection (a) of this section except the elector has not resided in Wyoming for thirty (30) days or more before the date of a presidential election at which he offers to vote, shall be qualified to vote for president and vice president of the United States but for no other offices.

22
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3
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103.

Furnishing of oath forms; contents thereof.

(b)

Following the provision of the information required in subsection (a) of this section, the form shall require the applicant's signature in full below the following oath:

I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States; that I am a bona fide resident of the state of Wyoming and this county;
I have resided in the state for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election;
that if registered in another county or state, I hereby request that my registration be withdrawn; that I will be at least eighteen (18) years of age on or before the next election; that I am not currently adjudicated a mentally incompetent person, that I have not been convicted of a felony, or if I have been convicted of a felony, I have had my civil or voting rights restored by a competent authority; and that the voter registration information contained herein is true and accurate to my best knowledge and belief.

.... (Signature in full of applicant)

Subscribed and affirmed or sworn to before me by .... this .... day of ...., (year).

.... (Signature and title of registry agent
or person authorized to administer oaths)

22
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29
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104.

Definitions when principal act is silent.

(a)

When used in a principal act, the following definitions apply, unless the term is otherwise specifically defined in that principal act:

(v)

"Qualified elector" means a natural person who:

(E)

Has not been convicted of a felony, or, if so convicted, has had his civil or voting rights restored;
and

(F)

Has registered to vote
; and

(G)

Has been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the election at which he offers to vote
.

Section 2
.

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

(END)

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HB0038