With changes to election law this year–and a significant voter purge after the 2022 election–voters, understandably, have some confusion. Thankfully, the County Clerks continue to be an outstanding resource in all 23 counties of our state. As the administrators and protectors of our state’s election integrity and security, they are the first and best place to go for information about voting

Ensuring Wyomingites understand how and when they are eligible to vote lands squarely within the Equality State Policy Center’s mission of advancing transparent government and fair elections in support of all Wyoming communities. In response to many questions coming our way about the new laws and how they affect voters, ESPC. offers this simple guide. 

What is a “voter purge” and how do I know if I was purged?

Hearing “voter purge” might evoke images of chaos from a certain blockbuster movie that throws democracy out the window. However, the reality for the Wyomingites – eighty thousand plus – who were purged from voter rolls is much less dramatic. 

For more than 50 years, Wyoming has routinely purged voters to clean its voter rolls. That simply means the County Clerks remove anyone who didn’t vote in the most recent general election, moved out of state, or died since the November 2022 election.

Approximately 28% of all voters were removed from the voter rolls. Voters who were purged can still vote in the 2024 August 20th Primary Election. However, being purged by the state places the burden of re-registering on those individuals. To register, you simply need to follow the state’s rules and make time to register; your County Clerk’s office has the information about the process. 

Last year, County Clerk offices across the state sent notifications to the last known addresses of purged voters with detailed instructions on how to re-register in advance of the 2024 Primary Election.

Can I register before the election or on election day?

People who were removed from the voter rolls can still register in person at their County Clerk’s office before the Primary Election on August 20th, or on election day at the polling station. Be sure to have proper identification in hand for registration. Wyoming is one of the few states that does not allow online voter registration, but you can download a voter registration form and return it by postal service mail to your County Clerk’s office. 

The Wyoming Secretary of State website contains the information you will need to register to vote and the identification you need to show at the polls. 

How do I vote absentee?

Wyoming is a ” no excuse” state, meaning voters can request an absentee ballot for whatever reason without question. Requesting an absentee ballot is as simple as a phone call or email to your County Clerk’s office. 

Absentee voting—also known as early voting—begins July 23 and ends August 19. Military and overseas ballots will be accepted between July 5 and August 19 as part of a separate law known as UOCAVA, Any voter may cast an early ballot during the July 23-August 19 window by going into their County Clerk’s office and requesting to vote, whether you have conflicts with August 20th or just want to avoid the lines.

What other new voting laws might affect me?

Unlike in past elections, already registered voters will not be able to show up at the polls on Primary Election Day and switch their affiliated party. This previously benefited individuals who identified as Independents or chose to be unaffiliated with a major party by enabling them to select a partisan ballot with desirable candidates to participate in the Primary Election. However, the new law prohibits this practice further disenfranchising third party and unaffiliated voters from participating in the Primary Election where a significant portion of municipal, county, and state office races are decided. Once considered a semi-open primary, Wyoming now hosts a closed election using public dollars to implement a private primary election, only available to those registered in a political party. If you are not registered, you can still affiliate with a party (ie. Democrat/Republican) up to the day of the election when you register.

Long story short, it’s not too late to check your registration, register for the 2024 Primary Election on August 20, and cast your vote!