Student Voting Project | Wyoming

Voting at School

ID Requirements

You will have to show ID in order to register to vote in Wyoming. If you register by mail, you'll have to show ID in front of a notary public or registration agent. If you register at the polls on Election Day, you'll have to present ID at that time. Additionally, if you request an absentee mail-in ballot, and you're voting in your first federal election in Wyoming, you'll also have to include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot.

Wyoming accepts several forms of ID, including a driver's license from any state, a passport, any other kind of government-issued ID, a student photo ID issued by a Wyoming public institution, or a military ID. Or, you can present any 2 of the following forms of non-photo ID: a social security card, a certification of U.S. citizenship, a naturalization certificate, a draft record, an old voter registration card, a certified copy of your birth certificate, or any other form of ID issued by an official agency. Some counties may also choose to accept student IDs from private schools.

Registration Requirements

Regular in-person and mail-in registration closes 30 days before Election Day. Mail-in registration forms must be received by close of business on that day. Because Wyoming has Election Day registration, it is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act ("Motor Voter Law"). As a result, it is somewhat arduous to register by mail and Wyoming law does not permit voter registration drives. If you register by mail, you must present ID to and sign your registration form in front of a notary public or a registration agent. (Acceptable ID is discussed below in the section on identification requirements.) The notary public must also sign your registration form.

Wyoming also offers Election Day registration. If you plan to register on Election Day, you must come to the polls with ID. (Acceptable ID is discussed below in the section on ID requirements.) You can also register in-person at a county elections office prior to Election Day, and simultaneously cast an early ballot. You can do this even after the close of regular registration (which is 30 days before an election).

Residency Requirements

In Wyoming,your residence for voting purposes is your current place of actual habitation,where you currently physically live.  "Residence is the place where a person has acurrent habitation and to which, whenever he is absent, he has the intention ofreturning."  There is no requirement that you intend toremain permanently or indefinitely.  Wyoming also has a gainor loss provision. Ultimately, if you come to Wyoming for school and consider it yourcurrent actual residence, you are entitled to vote under the law

The countyclerk can investigate your claim of residency if the clerk has reasonable causeto believe that you aren't in fact qualified. Indetermining whether a voter is a resident, the county clerk may consider anumber of factors, including where the voter's family lives, where the voterworks, where the voter's vehicle is registered, and the residence listed on thevoter's driver's license.  A voter can prove Wyoming residency by showing her name andaddress on any form of photo ID or on any current utility bill, bank statement,paycheck, or any other government document. Anyperson who is denied registration is entitled immediate written notice and an appeal to the local court within 5 days.

Students who lived in Wyoming before moving elsewhereto attend school, and who wish toestablish or keep their Wyoming voting residency (i.e., at their parents' Wyomingaddress), should have no problem doing so unless they've already registered to vote in another state.  Like all states, Wyoming allows students to keep their votingresidency even if they move out of the district to attend school, and the onlyway you might lose this residency is by establishing residency in a new state.  While registering to vote in another state is not automaticallyconsidered an abandonment of your Wyomingresidency, some judges or officials might view it as such.

Challenges to Residency

Only official poll workers can challenge your residency atthe polls.  If your residency is challenged, you willhave to swear an oath and vote by provisional ballot.  Your ballot will only be counted if you proveto the county clerk that you are a valid resident by the close of business onthe day following the election

Absentee Requirement

Anyone registered to vote in Wyoming may vote absentee. You may request an absentee ballot in person, by phone, by mail, or by e-mail. You can request an absentee ballot up to the day before Election Day. Your county clerk must receive your completed absentee ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Neither your application nor your ballot needs to be witnessed. First-time voters who register by mail should include a copy of their identification with their absentee ballot.

Voting at Home

ID Requirements

You will have to show ID in order to register to vote in Wyoming. Ifyou register by mail, you'll have to show ID in front of a notarypublic or registration agent. If you register at the polls on ElectionDay, you'll have to present ID at that time. Additionally, if yourequest an absentee mail-in ballot, and you're voting in your firstfederal election in Wyoming, you'll also have to include a copy of yourID with your absentee ballot.

Wyoming accepts several forms ofID, including a driver's license from any state, a passport, any otherkind of government-issued ID, a student photo ID issued by a Wyomingpublic institution, or a military ID. Or, you can present any 2 of thefollowing forms of non-photo ID: a social security card, acertification of U.S. citizenship, a naturalization certificate, adraft record, an old voter registration card, a certified copy of yourbirth certificate, or any other form of ID issued by an officialagency. Some counties may also choose to accept student IDs fromprivate schools.

Registration Requirements

Regular in-person and mail-in registration closes 30 days beforeElection Day. Mail-in registration forms must be received by close ofbusiness on that day. Because Wyoming has Election Day registration, itis exempt from the National Voter Registration Act ("Motor Voter Law").As a result, it is somewhat arduous to register by mail and Wyoming lawdoes not permit voter registration drives. If you register by mail, youmust present ID to and sign your registration form in front of a notarypublic or a registration agent. (Acceptable ID is discussed below inthe section on identification requirements.) The notary public mustalso sign your registration form.

Wyoming also offers ElectionDay registration. If you plan to register on Election Day, you mustcome to the polls with ID. (Acceptable ID is discussed below in thesection on ID requirements.) You can also register in-person at acounty elections office prior to Election Day, and simultaneously castan early ballot. You can do this even after the close of regularregistration (which is 30 days before an election).

Residency Requirements

In Wyoming, your residence for voting purposes is your current place of actual habitation, where you currently physically live.  "Residence is the place where a person has a current habitation and to which, whenever he is absent, he has the intention of returning."  There is no requirement that you intend to remain permanently or indefinitely.  Wyoming also has a gain or loss provision. Ultimately, if you come to Wyoming for school and consider it your current actual residence, you are entitled to vote under the law

The county clerk can investigate your claim of residency if the clerk has reasonable cause to believe that you aren't in fact qualified. In determining whether a voter is a resident, the county clerk may consider a number of factors, including where the voter's family lives, where the voter works, where the voter's vehicle is registered, and the residence listed on the voter's driver's license.  A voter can prove Wyoming residency by showing her name and address on any form of photo ID or on any current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any other government document. Any person who is denied registration is entitled immediate written notice  and an appeal to the local court within 5 days.

Students who lived in Wyoming before moving elsewhere to attend school, and who wish to establish or keep their Wyoming voting residency (i.e., at their parents' Wyoming address), should have no problem doing so unless they've already registered to vote in another state.  Like all states, Wyoming allows students to keep their voting residency even if they move out of the district to attend school, and the only way you might lose this residency is by establishing residency in a new state.  While registering to vote in another state is not automatically considered an abandonment of your Wyoming residency, some judges or officials might view it as such.

Challenges to Residency

Only official poll workers can challenge your residency at the polls.  If your residency is challenged, you will have to swear an oath and vote by provisional ballot.  Your ballot will only be counted if you prove to the county clerk that you are a valid resident by the close of business on the day following the election

Absentee Requirement

Anyone registered to vote in Wyoming may vote absentee. You may request an absentee ballot in person, by phone, by mail, or by e-mail. You can request an absentee ballot up to the day before Election Day. Your county clerk must receive your completed absentee ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Neither your application nor your ballot needs to be witnessed. First-time voters who register by mail should include a copy of their identification with their absentee ballot.

[1] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-1-102(xxx) (West 2008).

[2] Id.

[3] See id.; Interview with Lori Klassen, Elections Specialist, Wyoming Secretary of State's Office (May 14, 2008).

[4] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-105(a).

[5] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-105(b).

[6] 002-040-002 Wyo. Code R. § 6 (Weil 2008).

[7] Wyo. Stat. § 22-3-105(c).

[8] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-105(d).

[9] Wyo. Stat. § 22-15-104  Wyo. Stat. § 22-15-108 Wyo. Stat. § 22-15-109 (2008)

[10] Wyo. Stat. § 22-15-105

[11] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-102.

[12] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-3-104.

[13] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-103(b).

[14] Id.

[15] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-104.

[16] 002-040-002 Wyo. Code R. § 6.

[17] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-9-102. 

[18] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-9-104. 

[19] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-3-105. 

[20] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-9-118.