Wyoming committee advances bill requiring proof of residency and 30‑day durational requirement for voter registration

At a meeting of the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, members voted to advance House Bill 156, a measure that would require documentary proof of Wyoming residency when registering to vote and add a 30‑day durational residency requirement.

The bill, presented to the committee by Representative Bair, would insert language across Title 22 of the Wyoming statutes defining a “qualified elector” as someone who “has been a bona fide resident of the State of Wyoming for not less than 30 days before the date of the election in which he offers to vote.” It also grants rulemaking authority to the secretary of state to specify documents or other proof that establish residency.

Representative Bair said the measure was intended to move beyond attestation and to “press and test the system,” adding that the change is needed so “we know” registrants are bona fide residents. Secretary of State Chuck Gray told the committee the bill implements priorities from his office’s election integrity plan and argued that “Wyomingites and only…