House Administration panel hears Wyoming photo-ID experience; secretary says no large costs or disenfranchisement

Chairman Stile pressed Secretary Gray at a House Administration Committee hearing for details about Wyoming’s experience implementing photo identification and documentary proof of citizenship, asking whether the state needed extensive training or incurred large costs to do so. Secretary Gray responded that the requirements were 'common sense' and that Wyoming did not experience significant implementation problems.

"I went and bought a 6 pack of beer in Wisconsin the other day," Chairman Stile said to frame the question of whether verifying photo ID required special training, adding that routine transactions involve ID checks. Secretary Gray answered: "My experience is that, this is a common sense requirement," and said many Wyoming residents were already accustomed to showing identification before the voter-ID law passed.

On costs, Chairman Stile noted testimony that implementation could cost "hundreds of millions of dollars." Secretary Gray disputed that characterization for Wyoming, saying "No massive cost, chairman Stile," and explaining that Wyoming law includes a provision allowing an individual to request an ID and obtain a hardship exemption. She said that under Wyoming’s existing statutes "the requirements in the MEGA Act would impose no further cost because we already allow for attaining that ID on a hardship exemption for purposes of voting."

Chairman Stile and Secretary Gray also discussed documentary proof of citizenship. The chairman said Wyoming occupies a unique statutory position compared with states governed by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and asked whether Wyoming’s experience supported wider adoption. Secretary Gray described a recent bond election conducted under the documentary-proof requirement as "very clean" with "no issues" and "no complaints," and said the policy appeared to increase confidence in election administration.

The exchange turned to ballot timing and delayed counting in other states. Chairman Stile described observing thousands of ballots arriving after polls closed at the Los Angeles County central count because those ballots were accepted if postmarked by Election Day. He asked whether those delays "instill confidence" in elections. Secretary Gray answered, "It damages confidence, mister chairman," saying delayed results can undermine public trust.

Neither the transcript nor the exchange records a formal vote or a legislative action in the hearing transcript provided. The discussion focused on comparing Wyoming and other states’ practices on ID rules, the availability of hardship exemptions, and whether such measures affect public confidence in elections.