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Wyoming Constitutional Amendment B, Initiative Signature Distribution Requirement Measure (2008)
Wyoming Initiative Process, Constitutional Amendment B was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that was on the November 4, 2008 ballot, in Wyoming, where it was defeated.[1]
Election results
Although more votes were cast for Amendment B than against Amendment B, it lost, because in Wyoming a constitutional amendment must be approved by a majority of those voting in the election as measured by total ballots cast in the election. Since 256,035 ballots were cast in this election, Measure B would have required 128,019 votes in order to be approved.
| Wyoming Amendment A (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 101,655 | 39.70% | ||
| Yes | 120,333 | 47.00% | ||
| Total vote | 256,035 | |||
Election results via:Wyoming Secretary of State
- Note: The percentages above do not add up to 100% because of ballots that were cast in the election with the amendment question left blank. The percentages displayed above are the percentages of all ballots cast in the election rather than the percentage of yes and no vote totals.
Background
In 1998, voters approved changes to Wyoming's initiative process. This amendment was also known as Amendment B. The 2008 measure would modify the distribution requirement implemented in 1998.
Since 1998, signatures equal to 15% of the total number of voters in the preceding general election must be collected in each of 2/3 of the state's 23 counties. Under the 2008 measure, initiative supporters would have to gather signatures from two-thirds of the state's 30 Senate districts instead. As of 2008, no initiated measure had qualified for the Wyoming ballot since 1996 due to the strict laws governing its initiative process. As such, the constitutional amendment may have little practical impact.[2]
Specific provisions
Amendment B would have amended the Wyoming Constitution to change how the distribution requirement works for Wyoming signature requirements on any initiatives in future years. Initiative supporters would have had to get signatures from 15% of the qualified voters in two-thirds of the state's thirty (30) state senate districts.[2]
Ballot language
The wording of the ballot question said:
"The passage of this amendment would change the requirement for petition signatures for an initiative or referendum. Currently a petition must be signed by at least fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified voters in at least two-thirds (2/3) of the counties, as determined by those who voted in the last general election. This amendment would change the requirement to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified voters in at least two-thirds (2/3) of the senate districts, as determined by those who voted in the last general election."[3]
Supporters
Supporters included:
- State Representative Roy Cohee, R-District 35, co-sponsor
- State Senator Tony Ross, R-Cheyenne
- Representative Pete Illoway, R-Cheyenne
Arguments in Support
Argument made in support of the measure included:
- There is concern that the current law is unconstitutional based on court decisions in other states throwing out county-based distribution requirements.
- A distribution requirement that sets the distribution by state senate districts is likely to pass constitutional muster more readily than the county-based distribution requirement, due to population distribution.
Opponents
Opponents included:
- Ann Robinson, a former member of the Wyoming State Legislature from district 58
- Equality State Policy Center in Casper
Arguments in opposition
Arguments made in opposition to the measure included:
- Under Amendment B, the percentage is based on the number of voters in a senate district who participate in a particular election. According to Robinson, "The disparity is the number of people who voted in the last election. The more you vote, the more signatures you need. It makes more sense to have everybody’s signature in the state count the same."[4]
See also
- Wyoming 2008 ballot measures
- Wyoming signature requirements
- List of Wyoming ballot measures
- 2008 ballot measures
- Laws governing the initiative process in Wyoming
- Campaign finance requirements for Wyoming ballot measures
External links
- Wyoming Ballot Measures Election Results
- 2008 Wyoming Ballot Measures Voter Guide
- Full copy of bill authorizing Amendment B to appear on ballot
- Access to the ballot, Denver Post, December 14, 2008.
Footnotes
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed September 11, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Casper star-Tribune, "Ballot initiatives losing favor," May 25, 2008(Dead link)
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2008 Wyoming Voter's Guide," accessed September 11, 2015
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Confused about the amendments?" accessed September 11, 2015
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