Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon allowed House Bill 156, which makes changes to election procedures in the state, to become law without his signature on Friday. The bill requires voters to be Wyoming residents for at least 30 days before an election, mandates proof of residency and U.S. citizenship to register to vote, and instructs county clerks to deny registration if there is any indication the applicant is not a U.S. citizen.
While Gordon agrees with the premise of the bill, he expressed concerns over potential litigation due to conflicts with the U.S. Constitution. The residency requirement in HB 156 may clash with federal law that prohibits such restrictions for voting in presidential elections. The governor also questioned the broad language surrounding the denial of registration based on any indication of non-citizenship, citing potential difficulties in implementation for county clerks.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who advocated for the bill, praised the law’s passage as a way to ensure that only U.S. citizens and Wyoming residents can vote in the state. Wyoming is now the first state to require proof of citizenship for voter registration in all elections.
The act will take effect on July 1 and will be enforced for the 2026 primary election, allowing time for county clerks to address concerns over verifying residency documentation. Governor Gordon, while acknowledging the bill’s flaws, allowed it to pass as it includes some beneficial improvements to election processes.
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