2022 22LSO-0422
STATE OF WYOMING
SENATE FILE NO. SF0096
Collection of election ballots-prohibition.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Biteman, Bouchard, Dockstader,
French, Kinskey, McKeown and Salazar and Representative(s) Haroldson, Jennings,
Laursen and Neiman
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to elections; prohibiting the collection,
2 solicitation for collection and submission of absentee
3 ballots as specified; specifying penalties; making
4 conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking; and providing
5 for an effective date.
6
7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
8
9 Section 1. W.S. 22-9-112(b), 22-9-113, 22-26-101(a)
10 by creating a new paragraph (xi) and 22-26-121(e) are
11 amended to read:
12
13 22-9-112. Instructions on outer envelope.
14
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 2022 STATE OF WYOMING 22LSO-0422
1 (b) For all electors, as specified in W.S. 22-9-105,
2 the following shall be printed on the reverse side of the
3 outer envelope in red ink:
4
5 INSTRUCTIONS
6
7 This is your absentee ballot. To vote, mark the
8 ballot in secret, then sign the affidavit on the
9 back of the inner ballot envelope and mail or
10 hand deliver the inner ballot envelope to the
11 county clerk.
12
13 22-9-113. Completing and return of ballot.
14
15 (a) Upon receipt, a qualified elector shall mark the
16 ballot and sign the affidavit. The ballot shall then be
17 sealed in the inner ballot envelope and mailed or delivered
18 to the county clerk using one (1) of the following methods:
19
20 (i) Mail; or
21
22 (ii) Hand delivered to the location of the
23 county clerk's office.
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 2022 STATE OF WYOMING 22LSO-0422
1
2 (b) No person or group shall solicit, gather or
3 submit completed absentee ballots from any qualified
4 elector unless a communication is initiated by a qualified
5 elector to do so and the ballot is accompanied by written
6 authorization signed by the voter on a form prescribed by
7 the secretary of state.
8
9 22-26-101. Felony offenses generally.
10
11 (a) The following acts in connection with or related
12 to the election process or an election, if knowingly and
13 willfully committed, are felony offenses punishable by not
14 more than five (5) years' imprisonment in the state
15 penitentiary or a fine of not more than ten thousand
16 dollars ($10,000.00), or both:
17
18 (xi) Any violation of W.S. 22-9-113(b).
19
20 22-26-121. Violations of election code; complaints;
21 investigations and prosecutions.
22
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 2022 STATE OF WYOMING 22LSO-0422
1 (e) A complaint of a violation of W.S. 22-26-102, or
2 22-26-106 or 22-9-113(b) shall be filed with the county
3 clerk for the county in which the elector resides and be
4 investigated by the county sheriff as provided in those
5 sections. If the county clerk or other appropriate official
6 specified in W.S. 22-26-102(e) or 22-26-106(e) fails or
7 refuses for any reason to take action on the elector's
8 complaint, the elector may file a complaint with the
9 Wyoming attorney general.
10
11 Section 2. The secretary of state shall promulgate
12 all rules necessary to implement this act.
13
14 Section 3. This act is effective immediately upon
15 completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
16 as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
17 Constitution.
18
19 (END)
4 SF0096


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-9-112, 22-9-113, 22-26-101, 22-26-121