Catch Title: Poll watchers-polling stations observation

Sponsor: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

Effective Date: Effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law

Bill: https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2026/HB0053

Overview This bill amends the Wyoming Election Code to broaden and clarify the appointment, authority, and responsibilities of poll watchers . It establishes that poll watchers are certified by political party chairmen to observe voter turnout, registration, and vote counting at polling places, during absentee procedures, and after polls close . Notably, the bill grants watchers the authority to be positioned close enough to see and hear the check-in process and observe “every aspect of the election,” while maintaining prohibitions on electioneering and the disruption of the polling process .

Key Provisions

• Certification Requirements: Poll watchers must be registered electors residing in the county and belong to the political party they represent .
• Certification Timelines: Certification must be delivered electronically to the county clerk by the close of business the day before early voting starts and again before election day .
• Training Identification: The certification must explicitly identify the training completed by the poll watcher .
• Observation Proximity: Watchers are authorized to be located close enough to hear and see voters as they check in with election judges .
• Expanded Authority: Watchers may observe “every aspect of the election,” including polling place setup, shutdown procedures, and every part of the voting and counting process .
• Operational Restrictions: Watchers are prohibited from challenging voters, attempting to discern how an elector voted, conduct electioneering, or disrupting the process .
• Watcher Logistics: The bill requires that watchers be provided with chairs (though they are not restricted to them) and identification badges that specify their name and party .
• Rulemaking Authority: Grants the Secretary of State authority to promulgate rules to ensure poll watchers can carry out their responsibilities .

Implications

• Privacy and Proximity Concerns: The mandate that watchers be located close enough to “hear and see” voters during check-in raises significant concerns regarding the lack of privacy for voter-judge conversations and the potential for voter intimidation.
• Administrative Burden on Chief Judges: Because the bill requires names for certification but does not mandate a formal shift schedule be provided to the clerk, the burden of managing shifts and accommodating “switching” watchers falls entirely on the chief judge .
• Scope Limitation: While the authority is broad, it is limited to activities taking place at a polling place; processes such as signature verification on envelopes and ballot duplication remain under the purview of the Election Office and are not affected by this specific proximity provision.
• Party-Led Training: As certifications must identify “training completed,” political parties will be responsible for developing and implementing their own curriculum for watchers .
• Rulemaking Priorities: There is an identified need for the Secretary of State’s rules to specifically address and likely limit or prohibit the use of cell phones and other recording devices by watchers to protect election integrity.
• Enforcement Discretion: The chief judge maintains the authority to remove any poll watcher who disrupts the polling place or violates the Election Code, though the party may designate a replacement on the same day .