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25LSO-0322
ORIGINAL House
ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0156
ENROLLED ACT NO. 57,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session
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; requiring documentation proving residence to register to vote; prohibiting registration based on documentation showing noncitizen status; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.
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), (xxvii) and by creating new paragraphs (lv) and (lvi), 22
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3
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102(a)(i) and by creating a new paragraph (vi), 22
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3
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103(a) by creating new paragraphs (ix) and (x) and (b), 22
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3
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117(a)(intro), 22
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3
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118(a)(ii) 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:
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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
.
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1
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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;
(xxvii)
"Registration" is the entry and verification of the name
, residence, citizenship
and voter information of a qualified elector on the official registry list, as provided in W.S. 22
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3
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104(f) and 22
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3
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108;
(lv)
"Proof of residence" means the
documents or other proof of residence specified by rule of the secretary of state, which rule identifies documents or other proof that establishes residency. If a person does not have the documents or other proof of residency specified by rule of the secretary of state, "proof of residence" may be established by a signed attestation of the person that the person is a bona fide resident of the state of Wyoming. The attestation shall be subject to verification by the county clerk or the secretary of state;
(lvi)
"Proof of United States citizenship" means, for purposes of voter registration, any of the following:
(A)
A valid Wyoming driver's license as defined by W.S. 31
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7
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102(a)(xxv) or a valid Wyoming identification card issued under W.S. 31
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8
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101, provided that the license or identification card does not contain any indication that the person is not a United States citizen;
(B)
A valid tribal identification card issued by the governing body of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe or the Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Indian Reservation or any other federally recognized Indian tribe, provided that the identification card does not contain any indication that the person is not a United States citizen;
(C)
A valid driver's license or identification card issued by any other state that is consistent with the Real ID Act as defined by W.S. 31
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7
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102(a)(lii), provided that the driver's license or identification card does not include any indication that the person is not a United States citizen;
(D)
A valid United States passport;
(E)
A certificate of United States citizenship;
(F)
A certificate of naturalization;
(G)
A United States military draft record or a selective service registration acknowledgment card;
(H)
A consular report of birth abroad issued by the United States department of state;
(J)
An original or certified copy of a birth certificate in the United States bearing an official seal.
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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
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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:
(i)
He is a citizen of the United States
, as evidenced by providing proof of United States citizenship as defined by W.S. 22
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1
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102(a)(lvi)
;
(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.
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3
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103.
Furnishing of oath forms; contents thereof.
(a)
The county clerk shall furnish voter registration oath forms to registry agents which forms shall require the following voter information from the applicant:
(ix)
Proof of residence as defined in W.S. 22
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1
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102(a)(lv);
(x)
Proof of United States citizenship as defined by W.S. 22
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1
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102(a)(lvi).
(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)
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117.
Absentee registration generally; use of federal postcard.
(a)
Notwithstanding any other section or provision in this chapter, any citizen of the United States who is a resident of Wyoming may apply for registration by providing the information required by W.S. 22
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3
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103(a)
,
and
acceptable identification
,
to
proof of United States citizenship and proof of residence
and
by
completing and subscribing
,
the form of voter registration oath prescribed by W.S. 22
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3
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103(b) before any person authorized by law to administer oaths. Each county clerk shall furnish the voter registration oath forms.
The applicant shall mail or return the completed voter registration oath form to the county clerk in the county in which the applicant resides.
In order to vote in the next election, the application must be received in the county clerk's office before the close of registration for that election, or:
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118.
Proof of identity.
(a)
Unless a voter is challenged pursuant to W.S. 22
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101 through 22
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109, and except as provided in W.S. 22
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104(a)(vi) for an absentee ballot obtained in person by the elector, no identification shall be required when:
(ii)
Voting by absentee ballot after having registered by mail and having submitted a copy of the person's acceptable identification,
proof of United States citizenship as defined by W.S. 22
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1
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102(a)(lvi) and proof of residence
as set forth in W.S. 22
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1
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102(a)(xxxix)(A)
and (lv)
, at the time of registration.
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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.
The secretary of state shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.
Section 3
.
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(b)
Sections 2 and 3 of this act are 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)
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
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