What voters need to know about Wyoming’s elections this year

How and when Wyoming residents can vote will look different this year.
Two election laws related to political party affiliation and absentee voting were added to the books in 2023, making the August primaries the first major election affected by the new regulations.
Under the new rules, May 15 is the last day registered voters can change their political party affiliation. The affiliation associated with a voter’s registration determines which primaries — either Republican or Democratic — they are entitled to vote in. Previously voters could change their party affiliation at the polls on Election Day, and many are accustomed to doing so. Qualified voters who are not yet registered will still be able to register and choose their party the day of.  
Meanwhile, the window for absentee voting — also known as early voting — is shorter than before for most voters. The previous 45-day time frame was reduced to 28 days.
Local election officials across the state have been trying to get the word out, but most are working with limited resources. When lawmakers passed the new regulations in 2023, funding for additional voter education was not included in either bill.  
“We had hoped for a more robust educational component,” Malcolm Ervin, Platte County clerk and president of the County Clerks’ Association of Wyoming, told WyoFile.
“Due to funding, and not having a statewide approach, each county is taking it on their own in order to really educate their voters in a way that they see fit.”
The state’s top election official says his office is gearing up to also inform voters.
“As the 2024 election cycle begins, our office is engaging in a voter awareness and education campaign according to what our budget allows and similar in size and scope of previous administrations,” Secretary of State Chuck Gray told WyoFile in an emailed statement.
Gray also pointed to key election dates provided on his office’s website, press releases dating back to the legislation’s passage and op-eds.

Party affiliation changes
For years, Republican lawmakers sought to limit so-called crossover voting — the practice of changing party affiliation in order to vote for a certain candidate. In Republican-dominated Wyoming, this most often occurs when left-leaning voters change their party so they can participate in GOP contests. The practice received greater scrutiny amid the high-profile 2022 congressional race between then-Rep. Liz Cheney and attorney Harriet Hageman, who ultimately triumphed.
The ninth time was the charm for crossover voting critics. In 2023, the legislation was enacted without Gov. Mark Gordon’s signature after rising from the dead and passing both chambers.
Supporters said it was necessary to stop registered Democrats, minor party and unaffiliated voters from influencing primary election as Republicans.
Voters are now prohibited from changing party affiliation during the 96 days leading up to the primary election. The law lines up with the candidate filing period, and opponents have criticized the regulation for effectively forcing voters to choose a party before even knowing the slate of candidates.
This year, the deadline falls on May 15.
The restriction will not apply to new voters registering after that deadline, such as someone who has turned 18 after May 15, according to the secretary of state’s office. It would also not apply to voters who cancel their registration ahead of the deadline and then re-registers sometime after May 15.

Absentee ballots
In Wyoming, absentee ballots are used for both mail-in voting and early in-person voting. In 2023, lawmakers voted to shorten the absentee ballot window from 45 days ahead of an election to 28 days. There is one exception to the restriction. Wyoming residents who live outside the United States, such as those who are serving in the military, are exempt under federal law.
Absentee voting begins July 5 for those that qualify for the out-of-country exemption. For all other voters, it will begin July 23. Absentee ballots may be requested at any time in 2024.
The primary election is Aug. 20 and the general election is Nov. 5.