Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus are defending their claim that the state is the first in the nation to require proof of citizenship for all elections, a statement that has drawn scrutiny over its accuracy, Gillette News Record reports.
House Bill 156, which mandates proof of citizenship when registering to vote, became law this year without Governor Mark Gordon’s signature. Supporters, including Gray and members of the Freedom Caucus, have hailed the measure as a national first.
“HB 156 makes Wyoming the first in the nation to apply proof of citizenship for registering to vote for all elections,” Gray stated on March 21.
The Freedom Caucus echoed this in a social media post.
However, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) notes that multiple states, including New Hampshire and Louisiana, already have documentary proof of citizenship requirements. While Wyoming may be the first state to enact such a law in 2024, it is not the first overall—Arizona and Kansas passed similar laws in 2005 and 2011, respectively.
When questioned about these precedents, Gray dismissed concerns, saying the media’s scrutiny reflected “a lack of understanding.” He argued that Wyoming’s law is stricter than New Hampshire’s because it explicitly lists nine acceptable documents—such as a passport, tribal ID, or certain Wyoming driver’s licenses—whereas New Hampshire’s law allows for “other reasonable documentation,” which he claims is too vague.
Opponents, including the Equality State Policy Center, argue that proof of citizenship laws have historically resulted in voter disenfranchisement. A 2018 court ruling struck down Kansas’ proof of citizenship law, citing it as an unconstitutional burden on voting rights. Research from the Brennan Center for Justice found that in Kansas, 8-14% of new voter registrations were blocked, and nearly all affected individuals were eligible citizens.
Marissa Carpio, policy director at the Equality State Policy Center, said Gray’s response ignores the real issue.
“These court cases have cost states millions in taxpayer dollars,” Carpio said. “It’s reasonable for the public and press to seek clarity. This law is a solution in search of a problem, elevated by a search for national attention, but its real impact will fall on eligible Wyoming voters—particularly women, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations—who will now face unnecessary barriers at the ballot box.”
Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, chair of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, doubled down on the claim that Wyoming is leading the nation, arguing that other states’ laws include loopholes or exemptions. She criticized the media’s pushback, calling it “laughable.”
“It’s laughable that the same left-wing media who was screaming that the sky is falling when Wyoming took action to prevent illegal aliens from voting is now claiming Wyoming is somehow late to the party,” Rodriguez-Williams said.
