Catch Title: Elections-voter registration revisions

Sponsor: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

Effective Date: June 1, 2026

URL: https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2026/SF0030

Overview: This bill standardizes the definition of a “qualified elector” across multiple Wyoming statutes, including the Resort District Act and the Special District Elections Act. The primary aim is to establish a uniform 30-day residency requirement for all voters and to align the voter registration oath with these standardized qualifications. While reaffirming existing registration timelines, the bill codifies specific eligibility criteria regarding age, residency, and the restoration of voting rights.

Key Provisions:

• Standardized “Qualified Elector” Definition:Defines a qualified elector as a natural person who is a US citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and a bona fide resident of Wyoming for at least 30 days prior to the election.
• Uniform Residency Requirement:Mandates a 30-day residency period as a prerequisite for voting in general elections, resort district elections, and special district elections.
• Voter Registration Oath Revisions:Updates the mandatory registration oath to require specific affirmations of bona fide residency for at least 30 days and the absence of un-restored felony convictions or adjudicated mental incompetence.
• Reaffirmation of Registration Timelines:Reasserts that residents may register to vote not less than 14 days before an election, or as otherwise permitted by law (e.g., same-day registration).
• Restoration of Rights Clause:Specifies that individuals with prior felony convictions must have their civil or voting rights restored by a “competent authority” to qualify as an elector.

Implications:

• [Ambiguous: Bona Fide Residency Verification]There is no specified provision or standardized procedure for verifying “bona fide residency” for homeless, indigent, or other marginalized individuals who lack traditional proof of address.
• Potential for Disenfranchisement:The 30-day residency mandate creates a significant risk for individuals moving to Wyoming from another state shortly before a General Election. Such individuals may find themselves ineligible in their previous state and unable to meet the Wyoming residency threshold in time, effectively losing their right to vote in that cycle.
• Election Day Registration Obstacles:While same-day registration exists, voters unaware of the 30-day residency requirement may be turned away on election day with no administrative recourse.
• Administrative Uniformity:Standardizing definitions across the Resort District and Special District Acts simplifies the training of election judges and the management of specialized local elections by the Secretary of State and county clerks.
• Procedural Redundancy:The reaffirmation of registration timelines and felony restoration standards represents a continuation of existing policy rather than a significant procedural shift.