Public Policy In Wyoming

This article does not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

The Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all the Wyoming public policy articles on Ballotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on the map below.

For a list of all public policy articles on Ballotpedia see here.

Budget Policy[edit]

Budget and finances[edit]

In Wyoming, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

Taxes[edit]

Wyoming generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying a general sales tax as well as other miscellaneous taxes. The state derives its constitutional authority to tax from Article 15 of the state constitution.^[2][3]

Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.^[4]

Civil Liberties Policy[edit]

Affirmative action[edit]

Affirmative action in Wyoming refers to the steps taken by employers and universities in Wyoming to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such as strict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978 United States Supreme Court case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.^[5]

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.^[6][7]

The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

Campaign finance[edit]

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.

This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in Wyoming, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Wyoming with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in Wyoming.

The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.^[8]

Background[edit]

Seal of the United States Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions, and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.^[9] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within 15 days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.^[10]

The Supreme Court of the United States has issued a number of rulings pertaining to federal election campaign finance regulations. In the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.^[11] In the SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of the Citizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.^[12][13] In 2014's McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.^[14]

While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states enforce their own regulation and reporting requirements. Regulations vary by state, as do limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.

Contribution limits[edit]

The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in Wyoming as of August 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.

State comparisons in the 2024 elections[edit]

See also: State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements

Candidate reporting requirements[edit]

Seal of Wyoming

See statutes: Title 22-25 of the Wyoming Election Code

A candidate seeking to collect contributions and make expenditures for the purpose of an election must form a candidate campaign committee. The candidate must file a statement of formation within 10 days of filing for office. This statement is required when any candidate's campaign committee is formed, whether before an election to aid in the campaign or formed after an election to defray campaign debts incurred. The committee must also include a chairman and treasurer, who must be separate individuals. Campaign finance reports must be filed electronically through the Wyoming Campaign Finance Information System.^[16]

For candidates seeking state office, the statement of formation must be filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State and contain the following:^[16]

1. the name and mailing address of the committee;
2. the name and address of the committee chairman and treasurer;
3. the date the committee was formed; and
4. the purpose of the committee.

Statutory filing dates[edit]

After formation of a campaign committee, the candidate is required to file campaign finance reports throughout the election year.^[17][18]

• Every candidate must file a fully itemized statement of receipts and expenditures at least seven days but not more than 14 days before any primary, general, or special election.
• Every candidate must file a fully itemized statement of receipts and expenditures within 10 days after any general or special election.
• Every candidate in any primary election must file a fully itemized statement of receipts and expenditures within 10 days after the primary election.

Campaign finance reports[edit]

Campaign finance statements must set forth the full and complete record of receipts, including cash, goods, or services. A statement must also include a fully itemized statement of expenditures, including actual and promised expenditures. Receipts that exceed the $100 threshold must be itemized.^[17]

A candidate or committee must continue to make the reports until the campaign committee terminates and the candidate or committee files a statement of termination with the Wyoming Secretary of State. A statement of termination may be filed upon retirement of all debts.^[17]

Campaign finance legislation[edit]

The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Wyoming's current legislative session.^[19]

Election and campaign ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Wyoming ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked 4 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.

1. Wyoming Special Session, Constitutional Amendment B (2002)
2. Wyoming Suffrage Not Based on Mental Status, Amendment B (1996)
3. Wyoming Legislature Appointments and Elections, Amendment 3 (1972)
4. Wyoming Qualifications of Electors, Amendment 2 (1970)

Election administration agencies[edit]

Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Wyoming can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Wyoming County Clerks

Click here for a list

Wyoming Secretary of State, Elections Division

Herschler Building East

122 West 25th Street, Suite 100

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002-0020

Phone: 307-777-5860

Email: elections@wyo.gov

Website: http://soswy.state.wy.us/elections/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

1050 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20463

Telephone: (202)-694-1100

Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530

Email: info@fec.gov

Website: http://www.fec.gov/

Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Wyoming campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also[edit]

• Campaign finance regulation
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Wyoming
• Wyoming

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of Wyoming Cheyenne (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

Nonprofit regulation[edit]

Nonprofit regulation in Wyoming involves a complex set of rules that govern nonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

• contribution limits,
• donor disclosure, and
• the redefinition of issue advocacy.

Wyoming is one of 11 states that do not require charitable organizations, or those intending to solicit on their behalf, to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are a Wyoming organization or based out-of-state.^[1]

Education Policy[edit]

K-12 Public education[edit]

The Wyoming public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Wyoming had 94,488 students enrolled in a total of 348 schools in 49 school districts. There were 7,378 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 13 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Wyoming spent on average $16,698 per pupil.^[4] The state's graduation rate was 82 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.^[5]

General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how Wyoming compares to the national level for the most recent years for which data is available.

Academic performance[edit]

The sections below do not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Education terms
For more information on education policy terms, see this article.
School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Idaho, Montana, and Utah), Wyoming had the highest percentage of fourth grade students score at or above proficient in math.^[6]

Graduation, ACT and SAT scores[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Wyoming and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.^[6][7][8]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.^[9]

Wyoming schools reported a graduation rate of 77 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, lowest among its neighboring states.

In Wyoming, more students took the ACT than the SAT in 2013, earning an average ACT score of 19.8.

Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Wyoming was higher than the national average at 5.4 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 4.3 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.^[10]

Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in Wyoming

As of June 2015, Wyoming ranked last in the U.S. in private school attendance. Other school choice options for students in the state included charter schools, homeschooling, online learning and voluntary public school open enrollment policies.

Developments[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.^[11]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.^[12]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

Wyoming is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: Wyoming state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.^[13][14]

Wyoming spent approximately 10.9 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. School system revenue came primarily from state funds. When compared to its neighboring states, Wyoming dedicated the smallest portion of its total budget to public education, but had the highest per pupil spending.

Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.^[14]

During fiscal year 2013, the primary source of school system funding in Wyoming was state revenue, at $881 million. Wyoming's total public education revenue was slightly higher than Montana's, which was the lowest when compared to Wyoming and its neighboring states.

Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.^[15]

Public education expenditures in Wyoming totaled approximately $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2012. Total public education expenditures in Wyoming were slightly higher than those in Montana, which had the lowest expenditures compared to Wyoming and its neighboring states.

Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in Wyoming, the average salary increased by 24.2 percent.^[17]

Organizations[edit]

State agencies[edit]

See also: Wyoming Department of Education

The Wyoming Department of Education oversees the state's K-12 public school system. The department is led by the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction. Jillian Balow was sworn into the position in January 2015.^[18]

The mission statement of the Wyoming Department of Education reads:^[19]

The Wyoming State Board of Education sets education policy for the state's public school system and advocates on behalf of students, teachers and citizens.^[21] The board has 12 members, including the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction.^[22]

Unions[edit]

In 2012, the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Wyoming ranked 29th overall for union power and influence, or "average," which was the middle tier of five.^[23]

The main union related to the Wyoming school system is the Wyoming Education Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA).

Government sector lobbying[edit]

See also: Wyoming government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the Wyoming School Boards Association.

Studies and reports[edit]

Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

Wyoming received a score of 79.9, or a B- average in the "chance for success" category. This was above the national average. The state's highest score was in "school finance" at 90.3, or an A- average. The lowest score was in "the teaching profession" at 66.7, or a D+ average. Wyoming received the highest score in the "school finance" category in the country. The chart below displays the scores of Wyoming and its surrounding states.^[24]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

District types[edit]

Wyoming contains multiple types of school districts. The most prevalent are Unified districts (K-12), which contain both elementary and high schools, Elementary districts (K-6 or K-8), which contain only elementary schools and High School districts (9-12), which contain only high schools.^[25]

School board composition[edit]

Wyoming school board members are generally elected by residents of the school district, although some school board members are appointed to fill vacancies until the next election for the seat is held. Wyoming school board elections typically select board members on an at-large basis, allowing all residents living in the school district to vote for any board candidates on the ballot.^[25]

School boards can consists of five, seven or nine members. Board members serve four-year terms, which are often staggered every two years.^[25]

Term limits[edit]

Wyoming does not impose statewide term limits on school board members. However, terms limits on school board members can still be imposed on the local level.^[25]

Elections[edit]

See also: Wyoming school board elections, 2025

No Wyoming school districts within Ballotpedia's coverage scope are holding school board elections in 2025.

Path to the ballot[edit]

To qualify for the ballot as a school board candidate in Wyoming, a person must be:^[26]

• A citizen of the United States
• 18 years of age or older
• A resident of Wyoming at the time of the election

Candidates file applications with the county clerk at least 70 days and no more than 90 days prior to the election.^[26]

Campaign finance[edit]

State law requires candidates to file reports about campaign contributions at least seven days before each election. Candidates must also provide detailed reports on contributions and expenditures within 10 days after each election. All campaign finance reports from local candidates are filed with the county elections office. Individuals are limited to contributing $1,000 per candidate per election and a maximum of $25,000 across all races in a two-year period.^[27]

Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Wyoming state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of Wyoming ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. Wyoming Permanent Fund, Constitutional Amendment C (2006)
2. Wyoming School Revenue Limit, Question A (2004)
3. Wyoming Nonresidential Trustees Amendment, Constitutional Amendment A (2014)
4. Wyoming State Education Levy, Amendment 2 (1982)
5. Wyoming Equal Funding for Schools, Amendment 2 (1978)
6. Wyoming Statewide School Levy, Amendment 3 (1974)

In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Wyoming education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also[edit]

• Historical public education information in Wyoming
• Wyoming state budget and finances
• Wyoming Department of Education
• List of school districts in Wyoming
• School choice in Wyoming
• Charter schools in Wyoming
• Wyoming
• Education Policy in the U.S.

External links[edit]

• Wyoming Department of Education
• Wyoming State Board of Education
• Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board
• Wyoming Public School Ratings by PSK12
• Wyoming Public School Ratings by Great Schools

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of Wyoming Cheyenne (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

Higher education[edit]

Wyoming's higher education system is composed of 10 colleges and universities. Of these, eight are public institutions, two are nonprofit private schools, and none are for-profit private institutions.^[1]

School choice[edit]

School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).^[2][3]

Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

Charter schools[edit]

Charter schools in Wyoming are public schools operated independently of public school systems. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

Election Policy[edit]

Ballot access requirements[edit]

In order to get on the ballot in Wyoming, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Wyoming. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Redistricting[edit]

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Wyoming's one United States Representative and 90 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.^[4][5][6][7]

Wyoming was apportioned one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Wyoming after the 2020 census.

Voting[edit]

Election Information
2026 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubmit

The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Wyoming:

• Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
• In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
• Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
• Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
• Contact information for election agencies.

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Energy Policy[edit]

Energy information[edit]

Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

Fracking[edit]

In 2016, there were 30,724 oil and natural gas wells in Wyoming according to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. As of May 2017, the state did not have available data on the number of wells that were hydraulically fractured.^[8][8]

The map below shows the location of oil and natural gas permits in Wyoming as of May 2017.

Map of oil and natural gas permits in Wyoming as of May 2017 (click to enlarge)

Map legend

Environmental Policy[edit]

Environmental information[edit]

Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy in Wyoming.

Endangered species[edit]

Endangered species policy in Wyoming involves the identification and protection of endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

Finance Policy[edit]

Financial regulation information[edit]

The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to the Federal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.^[9]

Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.^[10][11]

Some, such as the Brookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as the Cato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.^[12][13]

Healthcare Policy[edit]

Healthcare information[edit]

Healthcare policy in Wyoming involves the creation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such as insurance, pharmaceuticals and health information technology.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.^[14]

Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is the rising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as on state budgets.

Other issues in healthcare policy include

• state Medicaid expansion,
• health information technology and privacy,
• uninsured and underinsured portions of the population,
• a shortage of primary care physicians, and
• mental healthcare access and coverage.

Medicaid spending[edit]

Wyoming's Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

Effect of the Affordable Care Act[edit]

The impact of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has been debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama (D). The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system of health insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law. However, a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals are required to obtain health insurance.

Immigration Policy[edit]

Immigration information[edit]

Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known as sanctuary jurisdictions.

Pension Policy[edit]

Public pensions[edit]

Wyoming public pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Wyoming receive retirement benefits.

There were eight public pension systems in Wyoming as of 2020, administered at the state-level. Membership in Wyoming's various pension systems totaled 84,225, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 41,061 were active members.^[15]

Public policy in other states[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of Wyoming Cheyenne (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy