skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, April 7, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. stock futures plunge ahead of Monday open as Trump tariff shock continues; AZ voting rights advocates oppose Trump's election order; OR hunger-fighting groups call USDA food program cuts 'cruel;' Debate over school vouchers in TX moves to House floor.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

White House economic plans dominate the headlines, but actions on elections and voting rules are sparking debate. Local groups voice concerns about the future of immigration, health care and nutrition.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The proposed dismantling of the Depart. of Education has rural schools scared, postal carriers say USPS changes will hurt rural communities most, fiber networks to improve internet may be supplanted by Musk's satellites, and it's time to PLAY BALL!

Bill for 30-day waiting period to trigger ballot access stalls

play audio
Play

Monday, February 26, 2024   

Voting is a fundamental right in American democracy, but some Wyoming lawmakers want to restrict that right to people who can prove they have been Wyoming residents for at least 30 days.

Antonio Serrano - advocacy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming, one group opposing House Bill 38 - said decisions made on school boards, in city halls, the state legislature and Congress affect the lives of all Wyomingites regardless of their move-in date.

He said there is only one way to determine who those officials will be - by voting.

"People move to Wyoming because they love Wyoming," said Serrano. "They love the opportunities here, they love the culture, they love the people here, and they want to be part of that. And this is just a way of excluding people from having equal representation at the ballot."

The bill, which has not advanced to a House floor vote, would require voters to be bona fide Wyoming residents for no less than 30 days before election day, but would make exceptions to vote for U.S. President and Vice President.

Proponents argued HB 38 would protect Wyoming from any outside source that may not hold what they see as the state's core values.

Serrano noted that 30 days may not seem like a long time, but voters could have to wait years to participate in the next election.

Serrano said he believes HB 38 is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist, and is a waste of the legislature's limited time and resources.

He pointed to a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision, in Dunn v. Blumstein, ruling that durational residency requirements violate the 14th Amendment.

"The US Constitution guarantees equal access to the ballot," said Serrano, "and when you're passing any law that infringes on that equal access to the ballot in any way - including preventing somebody from voting in the next election - that's infringing on the vote, plain and simple."

Serrano said he hopes efforts by the legislature to limit access to the ballot will cause more Wyoming residents to pay attention and get involved.

He said contacting your representative is as easy as entering your zip code online at 'Wyoleg.gov.'

"And one thing that is really unique about Wyoming is we have access to our lawmakers," said Serrano. "If we lived in any of our surrounding states, you might get a chief of staff when you call. But here in Wyoming, you get the lawmaker's cell phone."

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.





get more stories like this via email

more stories
Senate Bill 766 would prohibit California car dealers from selling add-ons that fail to benefit the buyer, such as service contracts that are invalid because the car was damaged in a prior crash or flood. (Nebojsa/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A new bill to make car shopping more transparent goes before the California Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. Senate Bill 766 would require …


Environment

play sound

Appalachian communities in Kentucky are poised to become manufacturing hubs for the wind energy industry, experts say. The region's workforce…

Social Issues

play sound

By Josh Israel for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indepen…


School vouchers, a program that would allow students to use public money to pay for private school tuition, has become a hot-button issue in Texas, pitting Republicans against one another. (KatMoy/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

After several weeks of public comment, bills addressing school finance in Texas will be presented to the House of Representatives. House Bill 2 is …

Environment

play sound

The Comanche 3 coal-fired power plant in Pueblo, Colo., is set to close in just six years -- and community leaders, regulators, and Xcel are …

Environment

play sound

Minnesota is considered a national leader for community solar opportunities but a successful state program expanding solar access would end in the nex…

Environment

play sound

Wyoming's practice of feeding elk over winters is a century old but the spread of disease has increased concerns. Now, the Greater Yellowstone …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021