Crossover voting bill heads to House

Wyomingites have long been able to change their party affiliation at the polls on Election Day, and despite at least one lawmaker’s attempt to change that, voters may still be able to do so during election season this fall.

After extensive public testimony Monday, the House Appropriations Committee voted 5-2 to give Senate File 97, “Change in party affiliation,” a “do not pass” recommendation when it heads to the House floor.

SF 97 is sponsored by Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, and would limit changes to party affiliation to months before a primary election. He said the bill is a response to a practice known as crossover voting, in which voters change registration at the polls in order to vote in the primary election of a party they do not belong to.

The House Appropriations Committee heard testimony from many people who spoke in opposition to SF 97, with several concerned that it would limit party affiliation changes to three months before a primary election. Opponents said that would effectively shut out voters’ opportunity to change affiliation before they even know which candidates would be on a primary ballot. Others said they worried it would reduce the number of people voting in an election at a time when people need to be encouraged to vote.