The Wyoming House of Representatives did not consider a bill Tuesday aimed at keeping voters from changing parties to influence the outcome of primary elections, leaving it to die in the closing week of the budget session.
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This story first appeared on Cowboy State Daily
By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily
The Wyoming House of Representatives did not consider a bill Tuesday aimed at keeping voters from changing parties to influence the outcome of primary elections, leaving it to die in the closing week of the budget session.
Senate File 97 was not considered for “committee of the whole” on Tuesday, the deadline for reviewing bills returned to the full chamber by committees, meaning it will no longer move forward in the legislative process this session. The bill had been supported by former President Donald Trump.
The bill received a “do not pass” recommendation from the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, with five representatives voting not to move it forward.
If the bill had been signed into law, it would have specified that people wishing to change party affiliation would have to do so about three months prior to a primary election or between the primary and general elections. Currently, voters may change party affiliation up to the day of a primary or general election.
The Appropriations Committee heard more than an hour of public testimony on Monday regarding the bill, both in support and opposition.
Bill sponsor Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, was the first to testify before the committee, echoing similar comments he has made about the legislation since the session began last month.
“We’ve seen in recent elections, a concerted effort by people that have no intentions of being with one party,” Biteman testified. “They want to influence the outcome of that particular party’s election. I don’t think that’s right.”
He has previously said that the bill is intended to keep Democrats from switching their party affiliation to Republican to influence the outcome of the Republican primary elections.
Biteman did not immediately respond to Cowboy State Daily’s request for comment on Tuesday.
Gail Symons, who runs the legislative blog Civics 307, pointed out during her testimony that the voting numbers between 2018 and 2020 showed that more Republicans switched to Democrat than vice versa.
“While there might be a lot of communications…the truth is, it’s not translating into actions,” she told the committee. “By no means do I think it’s appropriate to change party and vote for no other reason than to mess with somebody else’s nominations. My point is the data shows that is not happening.”
Laramie County voter Angela Sylvester told the committee on Monday that having to register for party affiliation so far in advance would be a huge inconvenience for her, as a single mother.
“I don’t like to vote along party lines,” she said. “I like to vote for who I think would be the best person.”
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Charles Cole
March 9, 2022 at 12:34 pm
I’m sure Liz Cheney will be overjoyed to learn this. The crossover nonsense seemed to be her only shot at winning the primary. Now, who knows?
Neil Schiche
March 9, 2022 at 2:42 pm
How did Biteman ever get elected in Sheridan County?
Once again he demonstrates a total lack of legislative intelligence, business acumen, and what is beneficial to Wyoming citizens everyday lives.
Last fall he wanted Wyoming to spend millions in a law suit against the Federal government that went nowhere. This is in a time when Wyoming is facing major financial problems. I recommended that he use some of his big government salary to fund this initiative. He declined.
Now he has been wasting our tax dollars by introducing legislation to try and restrict Wyoming voters from choosing what party they want to belong to at any time. His Senate bill couldn’t even make it thru the House appropriation committee. More wasted money and time. He doesn’t have the intelligence or common sense to understand that more Wyoming Republican citizens switched to Democrate than vice verse.
Biteman is out of touch with Wyoming and should go back to Michigan where he came from.
Harriett Oleson
March 9, 2022 at 2:43 pm
Or maybe Chuck, most Wyoming legislators and voters understand the right to vote, as we darn well please.. Leave the right to vote alone, THIS AIN’T TEXAS!!!!!
Myrna Loomis
March 9, 2022 at 3:42 pm
so very true, we don’t need some half baked politician who thinks someone like Trump is THE MAN!!