Constitutional Amendments

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, ch. 20
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-101 Ratification of proposed amendment or new constitution.

A proposed amendment to the constitution of the state of Wyoming submitted by a two-thirds vote of each of the houses of the state legislature or a proposed new constitution submitted by a constitutional convention may be ratified by a majority of the electors voting at the next general election. Voting on a proposed amendment or new constitution shall be regulated by general election laws.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-102 Transmittal to secretary of state; numbering and endorsement; ballot statement.

(a) A proposed amendment shall be transmitted to the office of the secretary of state by the house in which it originates or by a constitutional convention. The secretary of state shall letter each proposed amendment serially in the order received from the legislature or convention and shall endorse upon a proposed amendment, a brief statement of the purpose of the amendment. If the bill proposing the amendment provides this statement, it shall be adopted by the secretary of state. (b) The letter and statement endorsed on a proposed amendment are part of the amendment for purposes of reference in submitting the amendment to the electors and shall constitute the ballot statement of the amendment.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-103 Transmittal to county clerk; posting.

The secretary of state shall mail a certified copy of a proposed amendment and statement of its purpose filed in his office to each county clerk not less than sixty (60) days prior to the election at which the proposed amendment is submitted to the electors. The county clerk shall immediately post in his office the copy of a proposed amendment and statement of its purpose received from the secretary of state. The copy shall remain posted until after the election at which the amendment is submitted to the vote of the electors.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-104 Publication by secretary of state; supplemental publication by clerk.

(a) The secretary of state shall publish each proposed amendment and a notice that it will be submitted to the electors at the next general election, once a week for at least twelve (12) consecutive weeks prior to the election in a newspaper of general circulation published in each county and, if possible, once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks within thirty (30) days prior to the election in one (1) other newspaper of general circulation in each county. (b) The clerk may supplement publication thereof by radio or television broadcasts or both. The broadcasts shall identify the proposed amendment or other question, by letter and statement of purpose as prescribed by law, and shall state the name of the newspaper in which the published notice will appear and the date on which it will appear.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-105 Pamphlet.

The secretary of state shall print a reasonable number of pamphlets containing every proposed amendment and provide a copy of the pamphlet upon request to any person or organization.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-106 Publication expense.

The expense of publication of notice of proposed amendments and voter pamphlets shall be paid out of the general fund of the state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-107 Statement of purpose on ballot.

The county clerk shall print on the official nonpartisan general election ballot for the next general election the statement of purpose of each proposed amendment certified to him by the secretary of state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-108 Proclamation of adoption; effective date.

The governor shall issue a proclamation of adoption not later than ten (10) days after the adoption of each proposed amendment has been officially certified by the state canvassing board. A proposed amendment is effective on the date it is proclaimed adopted by the governor.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-109 Publication in session laws.

Each constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature, and if possible each proposed by a constitutional convention, and each constitutional amendment adopted by the vote of the people, shall be published in the next session laws.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-201 Proclamation of governor calling state ratifying convention.

(a) If the congress of the United States of America proposes any question of repealing, amending or altering the constitution of the United States of America, or any part thereof, to be submitted to a ratifying convention of delegates chosen by the qualified electors of the state and does not prescribe the manner and method of calling, holding and conducting the convention and of canvassing the returns of the votes of the delegates thereto and determining, declaring and publishing the result of the vote of the delegates to the ratifying convention on any question voted upon, for which the ratifying convention is called, it is the duty of the governor to make a public proclamation: (i) Calling the state ratifying convention; (ii) Calling for the election of delegates to the state ratifying convention; (iii) Specifying the place where and the time when the ratifying convention shall be held; (iv) Specifying the number of delegates (who shall be qualified electors) of which the ratifying convention shall consist; and (v) Specifying the method and manner by and in which delegates to the ratifying convention shall be elected.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-202 Election of delegates to state ratifying convention.

In each county of this state there shall be held a county convention of the qualified electors of the county at the time fixed by the proclamation. An election shall be held in which not less than five (5) delegates from each county and (1) one additional delegate for each five thousand (5,000) or major portion thereof of the inhabitants of the county shall be elected as delegates to the state ratifying convention specified in W.S. 22-20-201.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-203 Convening of county convention; presiding officer; certification of results.

It is the duty of the chairman of the board of county commissioners or some other member of the board in each county to convene the county convention and preside over it until the delegates chosen thereto select a chairman of the convention. It is the duty of the chairman and secretary of the convention to certify, under oath, to the secretary of state and to the state ratifying convention, the names of the delegates to the state ratifying convention chosen by the county convention.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-204 Rules of practice for county conventions; convention ballots.

(a) The rules of practice, procedure and conduct of the business of the several county conventions specified in W.S. 22-20-202 are those prescribed by "Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure and Order". (b) The vote on the selection of delegates to the state ratifying convention shall be by written or printed ballot.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-205 Determining apportionment of representation at conventions.

In the apportionment of representation in the county convention and state ratifying convention, the last federal census is the basis upon which the right to representation in the conventions shall be determined.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-206 Board of commissioners to act as election commissioners.

For the purpose of providing the necessary facilities and conveniences for conducting each of the meetings and conventions provided for by this chapter, the board of county commissioners of the several counties of this state are appointed election commissioners of their respective counties. It is their duty to do all things necessary and proper to facilitate the qualified electors of their respective counties in expressing their will upon any question submitted to them by the congress of the United States of America.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-207 Costs and expenses to be borne by county.

All costs incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter in each county shall be borne and paid by the county in which the costs accrued.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-208 Convening of state ratifying convention; costs and expenses; certification of results.

(a) If the governor issues a proclamation calling a state ratifying convention, it is the duty of the secretary of state to convene the ratifying convention and make all necessary arrangements. (b) The costs incidental to the holding of the state ratifying convention shall be borne and paid by the state, as appropriated by the legislature. (c) It is the duty of the officers of the state ratifying convention to certify, under oath, to the secretary of state, the result of the vote cast at the ratifying convention on each question submitted thereto. When the result of the vote of the delegates to the state ratifying convention is certified to the secretary of state, it is then the duty of the secretary of state to certify the result to the president and secretary of state of the United States, and to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-20-209 Procedure when congress directs manner of holding ratifying convention.

(a) If congress, either in the resolution submitting the question or by statute, prescribes the manner in which the ratifying convention shall be constituted, the provisions of this chapter are inoperative, and the ratifying convention shall be constituted and shall operate as the resolution or act of congress directs. All officers of the state who may be authorized or directed by the resolution or statute to take any action to constitute a ratifying convention for this state are authorized and directed to act in accordance therewith and in obedience thereto with the same force and effect as if acting under a statute of this state. (b) If an article V convention as defined in W.S. 9-22-101 is called, the provisions of this chapter are inoperative to the extent that they conflict with a convention conducted in accordance with W.S. 9-22-102.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title22.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026

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