AN ACT relating to elections; requiring independent candidates to swear that they are unaffiliated or not registered with a major or minor political party; revising the number of signatures required for independent candidates to appear on the general election ballot; revising the deadline to file a petition as an independent candidate; and providing for an effective date.
Summary
HB0054 would change Wyoming’s rules for independent candidates seeking a place on the general election ballot. The bill amends the petition form to require an independent candidate to swear that they are unaffiliated with, or not registered in, a major or minor political party. It also revises the signature thresholds for independent candidate petitions and changes the filing deadline by adding a 14-day period after a candidate receives approval to circulate the petition before filing it with the appropriate office.
The bill applies to independent candidates for partisan public offices and updates multiple election statutes governing nomination petitions, including the form of the petition, the number of required signatures, and the timing of filing. It also preserves special petition language for statewide offices such as U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and governor, while tying signature requirements to recent election turnout or district-specific vote totals. The act would take effect immediately upon completion of the constitutional process for enactment.
Impact
HB0054 would amend Wyoming election law in Title 22 by tightening and clarifying the requirements for independent candidate nomination petitions. It would affect the statutory petition form, the calculation of required signatures for statewide, countywide, and district offices, and the deadline for filing independent candidate petitions. Independent candidates, county clerks, the secretary of state, and voters participating in nomination petitions would be directly affected by the new requirements.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had limited support in the House and did not advance, failing introduction by a narrow margin. The vote history suggests the proposal was somewhat divisive rather than broadly embraced, with the chamber split closely on whether to move it forward. No committee transcript is available, so the public record here reflects the vote outcome more than detailed debate.
Contention
The likely points of contention are the added eligibility certification for independent candidates, the revised signature requirements, and the changed filing timeline. Supporters would likely view these changes as clarifying and standardizing ballot-access rules, while opponents may see them as making it harder for independent candidates to qualify for the ballot or as adding procedural burdens. The close vote indicates disagreement over whether the bill improves election administration or restricts access for nonpartisan and independent candidates.