DailyKenn.com — Wyoming's Trump-endorsed Republican Governor, Mark Gordon, vetoed a set of proposed rules by Secretary of State Chuck Gray. These rules aimed to mandate proof of Wyoming residency for prospective voters registering to vote, in addition to the existing requirement of proof of identity.
Currently, Wyoming's election code mandates that voters must be state residents and U.S. citizens. However, they are only required to provide proof of identity. Gray's proposed rules, presented as amendments to Chapter 2 of the Secretary of State’s Election Procedures, intended to change this.
Under Gray's proposals, voters could prove residency using various documents such as a driver’s license, passport, federal ID, or others, similar to those used for proving identity. Alternatively, individuals lacking these documents could provide their Wyoming driver’s license number along with any two additional documents from a specified list.
Additionally, Gray's rules stipulated that individuals presenting identification indicating non-U.S. citizenship would be barred from registering to vote.
During the public comment period, the secretary of state’s office received approximately 485 written comments, with around 280 in favor of the proposed rules and 180 opposed.
However, Governor Gordon vetoed the proposal, arguing that it exceeded the scope of the secretary of state’s authority. He stated that while Wyoming's elections are secure, any improvements to election laws should be the legislature's responsibility. Gordon highlighted concerns about breaching the separation of powers and emphasized the necessity for explicit legislative authorization for such rulemaking.
Gray, on the other hand, contends that Wyoming statutes not only allow for but mandate such rules. He argues that the proposed rules aimed to fulfill statutory requirements concerning voter registration and citizenship verification.
The Wyoming Legislature’s Management Council supported Gordon's veto, echoing concerns about the secretary of state's authority to enact such changes.
Gray expressed disappointment, asserting that the veto could potentially facilitate illegal voting by non-residents and undocumented immigrants, which he finds deeply troubling.
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