Deadline for declaring party affiliation approaches

Filing opens for this year’s elections in a couple of weeks and, for the first time in Wyoming, this event will also mark the deadline by which you must declare or change your party affiliation before the primaries.Filing opens on May 16 and will run for two weeks, until May 31.

The day before filing opens, May 15, is your final opportunity to declare your party affiliation. If you want to vote for either Republican or Democratic candidates in this year’s primary, you must be a registered voter for that party; if you are not affiliated, your ballot will contain only non-partisan candidates, such as city council positions.

This change was made during last year’s Legislative Session, when HB-103 was passed to prohibit an elector from changing their affiliation for a primary election between the time when nomination applications are filed through to the day of the primary.

To declare or change your affiliation, complete an application signed before a notary or election official and file it with the County Clerk’s Office.

Electors are still able to change affiliation for the general election once the primary is over and up to 14 days before the general. You can also do so at the polls on the day of the general or when requesting an absentee ballot for the general.

If you are not yet a registered voter, the deadline to register is 14 days before an election but you may still register and vote at the same time, during the absentee voting period, which begins 28 days before the election, or on election day.

There is no defined period of residency in Wyoming law for voter registration. On the application, you are asked to provide your address in this state, provide a document that bears your name and address and sign an oath affirming that you meet the legal qualifications to register and vote.

If you voted in Crook County during the last general election, your name will still be on the voters’ list and you do not need to re-register. However, if you have moved to another county or changed your name, registration will be necessary.

Candidates for Office

If you are looking to perform your civic duty by serving at the various levels of Wyoming’s government, filing dates mark the time during which you may put forth your names for seats ranging from the U.S. Legislature to city council.

File your application for federal and state offices, including the Wyoming State Legislature, with the Office of the Secretary of State.

This year, Crook County’s state representative seat (currently held by Chip Neiman) will be elected for a two-year term, as well as a six-year term for one U.S. Senator (the seat currently filled by John Barrasso) and a two-year term for Wyoming’s U.S. Representative (the seat occupied by Harriet Hageman).

Applications for these offices can be located on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.wyo.gov.

At the county level, one county commissioner seat with a four-year term will be voted on this year (currently held by Kelly Dennis). Committeemen and women will also be elected for every county precinct for two-year terms.

Application forms for these seats will be available when filing dates open.

Two four-year city council member terms will be voted on this year for three county towns: Sundance, Pine Haven and Moorcroft. Candidates should contact city hall for the council they wish to run for.

County boards will not appear on the primary ballot and will instead be voted on at the general election. Filing dates for the school board, hospital district, museum district, senior services district and conservation district will begin in August.