Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House passes HB 156 on voter residency proof after PO‑box amendment fails
Summary
House Bill 156, addressing proof of voter residency, passed the House after lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have explicitly allowed PO boxes as one form of residency proof and set a list of proofs in statute.
The Wyoming House passed House Bill 156, a bill about proof of voter residency and registration qualifications, after defeating a proposed amendment to list specific proofs of residence in statute and explicitly accommodate PO boxes.
Representative Lionel Yen offered the amendment, saying it would list acceptable proofs in statute and include a measure to allow two pieces of received mail or a PO box where the PO‑box applicant must show a lease or utility bill. "If you have a PO box, you've already proven that residency by effectually having mail with your identity on it," Yen said on the House floor, adding he did not want to make it harder for residents who rely on PO boxes.
Representative Bair opposed the amendment, noting current statutory and rule practices around driver's licenses and mailing addresses and expressing concern the amendment "falls a little short" because of how driver's‑license address printing and existing executive branch rules interact with residency proofs.
The House voted on the Yen amendment; the amendment failed. Later, the chief clerk called the roll on final passage. The tally recorded 51 ayes, 8 noes and 3 excused; the presiding officer announced House Bill 156 had passed the House.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 156 — Final passage: 51 aye, 8 no, 3 excused. (Amendment 1, specifying residency proofs including PO boxes — failed.)
The House then moved on to the amending and adoption of permanent House and joint rules.
