The Wyoming House of Representatives passed regulations on Monday aimed at preventing noncitizens from voting in elections.
“ I want to congratulate the House’s section of these charges, which have been focus number one of our election integrity plan, ” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said in a speech. “ I look forward to continuing to work with the Government to achieve significant, traditional transformation. ”
HB 156 stipulates that “qualified elector[s ] ” must have “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. ” The act also specifies that county clerks “shall no ” file an individual to voting “if the person’s presented recognition or evidence of mansion contains any indication that the person is not a citizen of the United States unless the person even presents proof of citizenship as specified by law of the secretary of state. ”
The measure cleared the lower room in a 51-8-3 ballot, with three politicians excused.
However, HB 157 stipulates that people must provide proof of membership when registering to vote in the state. The estimate includes specific examples of acceptable documents, such as a true Wyoming driver’s registration and Wyoming ID cards, “provided that [they do ] not have any evidence that the individual is not a United States citizen. ”
HB 157 similarly passed with overwhelming support ( 53-6-3 ). Both measures now head to the state Senate for consideration.
Enhancing protections against noncitizen voting was one of several legislative priorities put forward by Gray ahead of the Cowboy State’s 2025 session designed to increase the integrity of Wyoming elections. The GOP secretary of state told The Federalist earlier this month that implementation of such safeguards into law would make Wyoming the “only state in the union that has proof of citizenship for all races. ”
According to the local outlet WyoFile, “A Campbell County resident registered as a Republican and voted in the 2020 election, ” and was subsequently “charged by the federal government with passport fraud. ” A federal official, the outlet reported, “informed state authorities in August 2023 that the man, a Mexican national, had obtained a false Wyoming driver’s license and registered to vote. ”
Wyoming clerks reported “a combined five non-citizens who had tried to vote in 2024’s general election ” but were “turned away, ” according to WyoFile.
[READ: From Citizenship Requirements To Banning ‘Zuckbucks, ’ Wyoming’s Elections Chief Pushes Bold 2025 Agenda ]
While Republicans hold trifecta control of state government, passing election integrity bills has proven difficult in recent years, in large part due to opposition from the GOP establishment. For example, a bill prohibiting private election funding, such as “Zuckbucks, ” was killed in committee last year in an apparent act of retaliation against the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, whose members voted down several establishment-backed bills introduced earlier in the session.
The petty maneuver prevented Wyoming from joining the growing list of states ( 28 ) that have successfully banned or restricted private election funding. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus now holds a majority in the state House following the 2024 elections.
A bill ( HB0228 ) prohibiting “private funds for conducting elections” has been introduced in the Wyoming House this session but has yet to receive a vote.
For more election news and updates, visit electionbriefing. com.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClear Health, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
