Laws governing local ballot measures in Wyoming
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This page describes the state constitutional provisions and statutes that govern local ballot measures in Wyoming. Jurisdictions often establish additional rules within the parameters of state law; those can be found in local ordinances and home-rule charters.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Laws addressing local ballot measure powers in Wyoming
- General requirements for local ballot measures
- Rules for citizen-initiated local ballot measures
- Rules for referred local ballot measures
Law
The Wyoming Constitution and Wyoming Annotated Statutes establish the rules that govern local ballot measures in the state.
- Constitution: Articles 12 and 13 of the Wyoming Constitution
- Statute: Wyoming Annotated Statutes, Articles 21 and 22
General
The following outlines the general rules that govern local ballot measures in Wyoming, including both citizen-initiated measures and referred measures from local government bodies.
- Election timing:
- State law requires every bond election to be held on the same day as a primary or general election, or on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May or November, or on the first Tuesday after the third Monday in August.[1]
- Section 1 of Article 13 of the state constitution and state law authorize cities to conduct special elections via a charter ordinance for local ballot questions.[2]
- Elections for initiated ordinances or referendums can be held at special elections between 20 and 60 days from the day the petition is deemed valid; at a general election occurring not less than 70 days after; or at a primary election occurring not less than 110 days after.[3]
- Publication requirements: For primary elections, ballot questions must be published by the county clerk between 91 and 101 days before the election. For general elections, ballot questions must be published by the county clerk between 70 and 90 days before the election.[4]
- Vote requirements: Local ballot measures require a simple majority vote for approval.[5]
Initiatives
The following outlines additional rules that govern local citizen-initiated ballot measures in Wyoming.
- Authority: Section 1 of Article 13 authorizes Wyoming voters to file a referendum petition on charter ordinances passed by local governing bodies. State law authorizes voters in cities or towns with a commission form of government to propose initiated ordinances.[6][7]
- Signatures:
- Deadlines:
- Referendums on charter ordinances: Petitions must be filed 20 days after the ordinance is published and adopted by the governing body.[8]
- Initiated ordinances: Petitions must be filed 10 months after the first signature is collected. The local governing body has 20 days from when the petition is deemed valid to either adopt it or send it to voters.[7][9]
Referrals
The following outlines additional rules that govern local referred ballot measures in Wyoming.
- Authority: Section 2 of Article 12 requires Wyoming voters to approve division of counties. State law authorizes county commissioners to refer bond issues to voters to fund voting machines and storage facilities. Local governing bodies can refer questions amending or repealing approved initiated ordinances to local ballots. School districts are authorized to refer bond questions to the ballot for capital improvements, renovations, or the construction of school facilities and questions authorizing the establishment of school building funds.[6][10][11][12][13]
- Deadlines: For bond questions, the local governing body must notify the county clerk of the bond election 110 days before the election. For municipal bond questions, the city clerk must certify the question to the county clerk 60 days before the election.[14][15]
Laws governing local ballot measures in the U.S.
Laws governing local ballot measures in the United States
As state laws govern ballot measures, the rules are different from state to state. Click on a state below to explore that state's laws on local ballot measures.
See also
- Laws governing local ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in Wyoming
- Local ballot measures, Wyoming
- Counties in Wyoming
Footnotes
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-2-104," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-202," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-1003," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-2-109," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-2-117," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wyoming Secretary of State, "State Constitution," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-1001," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-1005," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-1003," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-10-104," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-1004," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 21-13-503," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 21-13-501," accessed December 16, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-21-103," accessed December 15, 2025
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Wyoming Annotated Statutes, 22-23-204," accessed December 15, 2025
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