2025 – Constitutional Competence Category #7

2025 – Constitutional Competence Category #7: Purity of Elections; Apportionment

2025 bills reviewed for this category:

All bills required an “Aye” vote to obey the Wyoming State Constitution.

The first eight bills apply to WY Article 6, Section 13. The last bill, SF0174, applies to WY Article 3, Section 3.

PURITY OF ELECTIONS

Wyoming State Constitution, Article 6, Section 13
The legislature shall pass laws to secure the purity of elections, and guard against abuses of the elective franchise.

The title of each of these bill is self-explanatory as to its purpose.

HB0144 County canvassing board.

House Third Reading Vote

2/12/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-1-2-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Chestek, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Jarvis, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Posey, Provenza, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Sherwood, Singh, Storer, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie, Yin

Nays: Representative Nicholas

Excused: Representative(s) Riggins, Smith

Ayes 59 Nays 1 Excused 2 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

3/4/2025 S 3rd Reading:Failed 14-17-0-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Biteman, Boner, Brennan, French, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Kolb, Laursen, Mckeown, Pearson, Salazar, Smith, Steinmetz

Nays: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, Gierau, Jones, Landen, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Rothfuss, Schuler, Scott

Ayes 14 Nays 17 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

HB0156 Proof of voter residency-registration qualifications.

House Third Reading Vote

1/20/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 51-8-3-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, K, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Singh, Smith, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie

Nays: Representative(s) Campbell, E, Chestek, Jarvis, Nicholas, Provenza, Sherwood, Storer, Yin

Excused: Representative(s) Posey, Riggins, Webber

Ayes 51 Nays 8 Excused 3 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

2/28/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-1-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Landen, Laursen, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Salazar, Schuler, Smith, Steinmetz

Nays: Senator(s) Anderson, Gierau, Rothfuss, Scott

Excused: Senator Kolb

Ayes 26 Nays 4 Excused 1 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

HB0165 Ranked choice voting-prohibition.
Note: The practice and procedures of ranked-choice voting require multiple votes and/or ballots for one race/office. While some states use this method, ranked-choice voting typically confuses voters, and unnecessarily complicates a simple voting process, thus disenfranchising voters and disturbing the purity of elections.

House Third Reading Vote

2/12/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 47-13-2-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Campbell, K, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Heiner, Hoeft, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Singh, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie

Nays: Representative(s) Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Chestek, Harshman, Jarvis, Larsen, Nicholas, Posey, Provenza, Sherwood, Storer, Yin

Excused: Representative(s) Riggins, Smith

Ayes 47 Nays 13 Excused 2 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

3/4/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 28-3-0-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Smith, Steinmetz

Nays: Senator(s) Case, Gierau, Rothfuss

Ayes 28 Nays 3 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

HB0228 Prohibition on private funds for conducting elections.

House Third Reading Vote

2/11/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-4-1-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Jarvis, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Nicholas, Ottman, Pendergraft, Posey, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Singh, Smith, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie, Yin

Nays: Representative(s) Chestek, Provenza, Sherwood, Storer

Excused: Representative Riggins

Ayes 57 Nays 4 Excused 1 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

3/3/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-1-0-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Case, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Smith, Steinmetz

Nays: Senator Cooper

Ayes 30 Nays 1 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

HB0232 Elections-hand counting for recounts. (House Vote only)

House Third Reading Vote
1/30/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 51-9-2-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Clouston, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Singh, Smith, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie

Nays: Representative(s) Chestek, Connolly, Jarvis, Nicholas, Posey, Provenza, Sherwood, Storer, Yin

Excused: Representative(s) Larson, Riggins

Ayes 51 Nays 9 Excused 2 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

HB0318 Maintenance of voter lists.

House Third Reading Vote

2/12/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 47-13-2-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, K, Clouston, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Heiner, Hoeft, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Singh, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter

Nays: Representative(s) Campbell, E, Chestek, Connolly, Harshman, Jarvis, Larsen, Nicholas, Posey, Provenza, Sherwood, Storer, Wylie, Yin

Excused: Representative(s) Riggins, Smith

Ayes 47 Nays 13 Excused 2 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

3/3/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-2-0-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Smith, Steinmetz

Nays: Senator(s) Case, Rothfuss

Ayes 29 Nays 2 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

HB0337 Prohibiting foreign funding of ballot measures.

House Third Reading Vote

2/12/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 58-2-2-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Chestek, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Jarvis, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Posey, Provenza, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Sherwood, Singh, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie, Yin

Nays: Representative(s) Nicholas, Storer

Excused: Representative(s) Riggins, Smith

Ayes 58 Nays 2 Excused 2 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

3/3/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Pearson, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Smith, Steinmetz

Ayes 31 Nays 0 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

SF0078 Distribution of unsolicited absentee ballot request forms.

House Third Reading Vote

2/19/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-4-1-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Eklund, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Jarvis, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Neiman, Nicholas, Ottman, Pendergraft, Posey, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Sherwood, Singh, Smith, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie

Nays: Representative(s) Chestek, Provenza, Storer, Yin

Excused: Representative Riggins

Ayes 57 Nays 4 Excused 1 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

1/29/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes 31 Nays 0 Excused 0 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

APPORTIONMENT

Wyoming State Constitution, Article 3, Section 3

Each county shall constitute a senatorial and representative district; the senate and house of representatives shall be composed of members elected by the legal voters of the counties respectively, every two (2) years. They shall be apportioned among the said counties as nearly as may be according to the number of their inhabitants. Each county shall have at least one senator and one representative; but at no time shall the number of members of the house of representatives be less than twice nor greater than three times the number of members of the senate. The senate and house of representatives first elected in pursuance of this constitution shall consist of sixteen and thirty-three members respectively.

SF0174 Constitutional apportionment of legislators.
SF0174 requires the WY legislative management council to create and assign a study committee to address the issue of malapportionment in Wyoming, which is constitutionally mandated.

Apportionment is the process by which seats in a legislative body are distributed among administrative divisions, such as states or parties, entitled to representation. The simplest and most universal principle of apportionment is that elections should give each vote an equal weight. This is both intuitive and stated in laws such as the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (Wikipedia).

Apportionment of WY legislators is a state constitutional mandate per Article 3, Section 3, however it has not been properly followed since 1992. According to Section 1 (vii) of the bill, “Since 1992 the Wyoming Legislature, contrary to Wyoming’s constitutional apportionment provisions, has allowed for the creation of legislative districts that do not follow county lines and legislative districts that do not have at least one (1) representative and one (1) senator per county;”

Thus an “Aye” vote on this bill would begin the necessary process of bringing Wyoming back into constitutional compliance with proper apportionment of legislators to Wyoming citizens.

House Third Reading Vote

3/4/2025 H 3rd Reading:Passed 54-6-2-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Chestek, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Erickson, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Harshman, Heiner, Hoeft, Jarvis, Johnson, Kelly, Knapp, Larsen, Larson, Lawley, Lien, Locke, Mccann, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Posey, Provenza, Riggins, Rodriguez-Williams, Schmid, Sherwood, Smith, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Thayer, Washut, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff, Williams, Winter, Wylie, Yin

Nays: Representative(s) Brown, L, Eklund, Filer, Geringer, Nicholas, Singh

Excused: Representative(s) Lucas, Storer

Ayes 54 Nays 6 Excused 2 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

Senate Third Reading Vote

2/12/2025 S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-1-0-0
ROLL CALL

Ayes: Senator(s) Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Mckeown, Nethercott, Olsen, Pearson, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Scott, Smith, Steinmetz

Excused: Senator Pappas

Ayes 30 Nays 0 Excused 1 Absent 0 Conflicts 0