By james art 
The House of Wyoming’s representatives on Thursday adopted a bill to ban the use of voting drops in the country.
The bill, HB 131, sponsored by reporter Christopher Knap, R-Gillette, was supported by Wyoming Secretary-General Chuck Gray and had previously stated that he thought their use had not been authorized under the Wyoming Act.
“The Wyoming Law I already believe does not allow them to be used. The intense interpretation arose only during the Covid-19 government’s response, and I canceled the directives issued by my predecessor Secretary Buchanan, resolved them in 2020, “he said as he testified in support of the Bill in the Committee last week.
The bill prohibiting the use of dropping boxes further compiled some of its agenda to tighten the rules surrounding the Wyoming election announced before the session began.
Seven Counts – Albany, Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Laramie, Sweetwater and Teton – used drops of boxes in the 2024 election.
On Thursday, the bill adopted the house with 51-10-1 vote with representatives. Elisa Campbell, R-Casper; Ken reader, D-Lramie; Julie Jarvis, R-Kasper; Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander; Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne; Ivan Posei, D-Fort Washakie; Karlee Provenza, D-Lramie; Trey Sherwood, D-Lramie; Liz Storer, D-Jackson; and Mike In, D-Jackson voted against the bill.
Rep. JR Riggins, R-Casper, was apologized by the vote.
The Wyoming District Officers Association did not take a position on the bill, but while the bill was in the Association of Plast County County and President Wyoming Malcolm Erwin district officers said the boxes have been used for decades.
“Of at least 90, of anecdotal evidence, the counties used [some form of box] To some extent, they are accepting lack of newsletters, “he said last week. “That [bill] It was not a response to 2020. No response to Secretary Buchanan Directives. In fact, these directives were the first time every security requirement was placed on drops. “
“I applauded the passage of the house of the Bill House 131,” Gray says in a statement after the bill is adopted. “The ban on ballot boxes is a key priority for election progress, ensuring the confidence of voters and the transparency of the Wyoming election. … I look forward to continuing to work with the legislature to achieve meaningful, conservative election reform. “
David Velazquez is a reporter at Casper Star-Tribune and can be found on 307-301-0506 or on [email protected]