Committee advances bill to expand employee time off for voting, add early-voting coverage

A House committee on Monday voted to advance House Bill 178, a measure to expand Wyoming law so that employers must give employees up to two hours to vote and to make that time-off protection explicit for early voting.

Representative Josiah Provenza, presenting the bill on behalf of the primary sponsor, told the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee the change is intended to reflect current work patterns and longer lines at polling places. “This bill comes, as a as a way to increase the work allowance time for our constituents to be able to vote,” Provenza said during the committee hearing. He described the change as an expansion to the existing statute (22-2-111) and said the measure would add language allowing time off during early voting and increase the one-hour allowance on Election Day to two hours.

The bill would amend Wyoming Statute 22-2-111 (employees’ time off to vote) to add an explicit early-voting carve-out and to change the length of paid time off from one hour to two hours "during a period that the elector has the ability to cast a vote," as presented.

Supporters at the hearing said the change removes a practical barrier to turnout. Gail Simmons of Civics 307 and Why Vote? told the committee that among a package of election bills before lawmakers, HB 178 is one of the few focused on encouraging participation: "This is the only one of the other 26 that is solely focused on encouraging participation in elections," she said. Marissa Carpio, policy director at the Equality State Policy Center, and Micah Richardson of the Wyoming Women’s Foundation also testified in favor, citing long lines and scheduling conflicts in health care and service-sector jobs.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray told the committee he supports the concept but asked for clarity about how subsection B of the draft interacts with the absentee (early) voting period. "I think it's right now, I think it's somewhat clear, but it's kind of silent on how the absentee period is handled with respect to the concept in subsection b," Gray said, urging the committee to clarify whether the extension applies during absentee/early-voting windows.

Committee members discussed possible edits related to employers' ability to inquire whether an employee actually cast a ballot and whether requiring proof of voting should remain in statute. Representative Provenza noted the provision requiring proof of having cast a legal vote is currently in statute and said removing it could affect the bill’s passability.

After public comment and discussion, Representative Johnson moved and Representative Lucas seconded that the committee "work the bill." The committee adopted the motion and passed House Bill 178 on a roll call vote of 8-1; Chairman Locke and eight other committee members voted aye, and Representative Knapp cast an absentee no.

The bill now moves from committee to the floor for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 178 — motion to work the bill moved by Representative Johnson, seconded by Representative Lucas; committee vote 8 ayes, 1 no (Knapp, absentee).