Municipal Elections

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, ch. 23
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-101 Laws governing; costs.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, a municipal election shall be governed by laws regulating statewide elections. The municipality holding any election shall pay the actual costs of the election, or an equitably proportioned share of a concurrent election as determined by the county clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-102 Qualifications of municipal officers.

All municipal offices are nonpartisan, and municipal officers shall be qualified electors residing in the municipality and any ward established under W.S. 22-23-103 or 15-11-105(b).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-103 Division of city into wards; residency.

(a) A city may be divided into wards by ordinance of the governing body of the city. The wards shall be compact in form and as nearly equal in population as possible. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person shall not be a candidate for the council from a ward for the purpose of meeting residency requirements for the city ward, unless he has been a resident of that ward for at least one (1) year next preceding his election. (c) In any general election year in which city wards are redrawn but not enacted into law at least one (1) year prior to the applicable filing periods, a person may be a candidate for a ward if he: (i) Is a resident of the city on the date he files an application under W.S. 22-5-204 or a petition under W.S. 22-5-301; and (ii) Has been a resident of the city for at least one (1) year next preceding his election. (d) A person seeking election from a ward as provided under subsection (c) of this section, including a councilman whose term otherwise would expire as a result of completing his term of office, shall be a resident of the ward at the time he takes office. (e) Following the redrawing of ward boundaries, a councilman whose term of office does not expire following the next general election shall continue to serve until the completion of his term.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-201 Conduct; who may vote.

(a) Except as provided in W.S. 22-23-202 municipal primary and general elections are held at the same time, in the same manner, at the same polling places, and are conducted by the same election officials, using the same poll lists, as the statewide primary and general elections. (b) Only voters residing in precincts within a municipality may vote in its elections.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-202 Optional mode of election for towns; procedures by charter ordinance.

(a) Any municipality may, by charter ordinance enacted pursuant to article 13, section 1(c) of the Wyoming constitution, elect not to conduct its elections for office or for municipal ballot propositions in the same manner as statewide elections, in which case the charter ordinance shall at a minimum provide: (i) The manner in which notice of elections shall be given; (ii) The procedure by which candidates shall be nominated for office, and by which vacancies in nomination are to be filled; (iii) The date, time and place of the election which shall be held on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in the month of May every two (2) years; (iv) The manner in which precinct officials and a canvassing board shall be appointed; (v) That the municipal clerk is responsible for: (A) Determining if a person seeking nomination is a qualified candidate; (B) Preparing the ballots in substantially the same form as the general election nonpartisan ballot; (C) Designating polling places; (D) Otherwise conducting the election. (vi) That the municipality shall bear the expense of the election; (vii) The manner in which election results are certified and persons receiving the highest number of votes are notified. (b) Those matters not otherwise provided for in a charter ordinance shall be governed by chapters 1 through 21, 23, 25 and 26 of this Election Code.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-204 Certification and printing of ballot propositions.

A municipal ballot proposition to be voted on at a general election shall be certified by the municipal clerk to the county clerk not less than sixty (60) days before the general election and shall be printed on the municipal ballot by the county clerk unless state law provides otherwise.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-301 Municipal officers.

All candidates for municipal office shall be nominated at the municipal primary election. In order to be eligible, a candidate must be a registered voter and a resident of the municipality and ward which he seeks to represent on the day the petition is filed, and shall not be an employee of the municipality. As used in this section, the term "employee" includes only those persons receiving an hourly wage or salary from a municipality. A person who provides volunteer services to a municipality shall not be considered an "employee" under this section based solely upon coverage under the Wyoming Worker's Compensation Act or other pension, death or disability program.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-302 Filing fee; application form.

Not more than ninety-six (96) days and not later than eighty-one (81) days preceding the municipal primary election, each candidate for a municipal office shall pay a nonrefundable filing fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and sign and file with the municipal clerk an application in substantially the following form: State of Wyoming ) ) ss County of .... ) I, ...., the undersigned, swear or affirm that I was born on ...., ....(year), and that I have been a resident of the State of Wyoming since ...., residing at ...., and that I am a registered voter of Election District No. ...., Precinct No. ...., in Ward No. ...., in the City of ...., and the State of Wyoming as of the closing of the municipal clerk's office on the day this application is filed, do hereby petition and request that my name be printed upon the Official Municipal Primary Ballot at the next primary election as a candidate for the office of ..... I hereby declare that if nominated and elected I will qualify for the office. Dated: ...... .............(Signature of Candidate)

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-303 Certification of candidates; names on ballots.

Not later than sixty-eight (68) days prior to the primary election, the municipal clerk shall certify to the county clerk the names of all qualified candidates for nomination at the municipal primary election and the office they seek. The number of municipal candidates the voters are entitled to vote for at the primary election is the number of candidates to be elected to municipal offices at the general election.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-304 Ballot form.

The county clerk shall prepare the municipal primary ballot as provided in chapter 6 of this title for nonpartisan ballots.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-307 Candidates nominated; certificate of nomination.

(a) The candidates equal to twice the number to be elected to each office who receive the highest number of votes are nominated to run for the office at the next general election and shall be issued a certificate of nomination by the county clerk. A write-in candidate shall not be nominated and shall not be entitled to have his name printed on the ballot for the next general election unless he received at least three (3) votes. (b) The chief election officer shall notify a write-in candidate who has been nominated for election within forty-eight (48) hours after the canvassing board meets. Notification may be made by United States postal service, any generally accepted business document delivery method evidenced by receipt of delivery or attempted delivery at the last known address of the write-in candidate or service as provided under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure of the successful write-in candidate to accept the nomination within five (5) days after delivery, attempted delivery or service under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, as computed pursuant to W.S. 22-2-110, results in the successful write-in candidate not appearing on the general election ballot, and results in a vacancy which can be filled as provided in W.S. 22-23-308. Each notification provided under this section shall inform the write-in candidate that failure to timely respond will result in forfeiture of nomination.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-308 Vacancies in nomination.

(a) A vacancy in nomination for a municipal office to be filled at a general election occurs if: (i) A candidate nominated at a primary election declines to accept the nomination, dies, moves his residence from his constituency or becomes disqualified to hold the office for any reason provided by law; (ii) After the primary election there are no nomination applications for the office of mayor or councilman. (b) A vacancy in nomination shall be filled by the municipal clerk notifying the person who received the next highest number of votes at the municipal primary election as shown on the official county canvass, or, if no other candidate exists, the vacancy in nomination may be filled by the governing body of the municipality. (c) Not less than sixty (60) days prior to the general election, the municipal clerk shall certify to the county clerk the names of all qualified candidates who have accepted nomination by write-in vote and those nominated by the governing body and the office they seek. The names shall be printed on the general election ballot.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-401 Preparation of ballots; cost.

The county clerk shall prepare ballots which shall be in substantially the same form as the general election nonpartisan ballot for the municipal general election. The name of every candidate legally qualified to appear on the ballot and all municipal ballot propositions to be voted on at the election shall be printed thereon. The cost of preparing the municipal ballots shall be determined by the county clerk and paid by the municipality.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-404 Commencement of term of office.

Except as otherwise provided by W.S. 22-23-202, the term of office of a person elected at the municipal general election commences on the first Monday in January following the general election.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-405 Constitutional oath required.

Before entering his duties, a person elected to a municipal office shall sign and file with the city clerk the same constitutional oath of office as county officers.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-801 "Special election" defined.

As used in this article, including W.S. 22-23-801 through 22-23-809, the term "special election" means a municipal election on any question which may legally be submitted to the voters of a municipality other than at a regular municipal primary or general election or an election on the question of whether to incorporate.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-802 Proclamation; supplementation of advertisement.

The date of a special election and the location of polling places shall be proclaimed by the governing body of the municipality not more than thirty (30) nor less than fifteen (15) days before the special election. The proclamation shall state the purpose of the election and shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The advertisement may be supplemented by the county or municipality as provided by W.S. 22-20-104(b).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-803 Polling places; election judges.

The governing body shall designate sufficient polling places to permit convenient voting and shall designate a sufficient number of qualified electors resident in the municipality to serve as judges of election. The judges of election at a municipal special election shall discharge the same duties as the judges of election at a regular statewide election.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-804 Ballots.

The municipal clerk shall provide ballots for the special election and shall deliver to each polling place ballots equal in number to the number of electors registered in the precinct plus twenty-five percent (25%).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-805 Poll lists.

Precinct poll lists for the special election shall be obtained by the municipal clerk from the county clerk and shall be paid for by the municipality. The municipal clerk shall furnish copies of the precinct poll lists to the judges of election. A copy of the precinct registry list shall be posted at each polling place during the special election.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-806 Entries in and delivery of pollbook; elector not on lists.

The judges of election shall make the same entries in the pollbook as are required for statewide elections. Following the election the pollbook shall be delivered to the municipal clerk. If the name of a person offering to vote at a special municipal election is not on the poll lists, he may qualify to vote by signing an affidavit and if a judge of election obtains verification from the county clerk as provided in W.S. 22-15-105 and 22-15-106.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-807 Vote count and certification.

After the polls are closed, the judges of election shall count the vote and certify the result in writing to the municipal clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-808 Canvassing vote; tie vote.

The governing body of the municipality shall meet not later than three (3) days after the election at the time specified by the mayor to canvass the result of the special election. A tie vote shall be broken by lots cast by the governing body.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-809 Certification of election results.

The governing body shall certify the result of the special election in writing and immediately post a copy of the certification in the office of the municipal clerk. The municipal clerk shall mail a copy of the proclamation to the county clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-901 Election of officers; petition.

(a) In addition to other provisions of law, any newly incorporated town may hold a special election for the election of officers to serve until successors are qualified following the next regularly scheduled election. Such special election shall not be held within ninety (90) days prior to a primary election. (b) Following completion of incorporation, persons who petitioned the board of county commissioners for incorporation may petition the county clerk, in writing, to hold a special election for the election of officers. Immediately upon receipt of a petition, the county clerk, in consultation with the petitioners, shall set the date for the election and shall conduct the election in accordance with law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-902 Application; filing fee; form; names on ballot.

(a) Candidates for office shall file an application for election and the required filing fee, with the county clerk, not more than fifty-five (55) nor less than thirty-five (35) days prior to the election. The election application shall be in substantially the following form: ELECTION APPLICATION State of Wyoming ) ) ss County of .... ) I, ...., being .... years of age, a qualified elector of Election District No. ...., Precinct No. ...., Ward No. .... (if applicable), residing at ...., in the City of ...., State of Wyoming, do hereby request that my name be printed upon the Official Special Municipal Election Ballot for the special election to be held on ...., ....(year), in the City of ...., as a candidate for the office of .... . I hereby declare that if elected I will qualify for the office. Dated the .... day of ...., ....(year) .... (Signature of Candidate) (b) The county clerk shall place the name of each qualified candidate on the special election ballot.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1001 Ordinance by initiative petition; content.

An incorporated city or town having a commission form of government may propose a municipal ordinance by an initiative petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors registered in the city or town and filed with the municipal clerk. The petition shall contain the proposed ordinance, the signatures and residence addresses of electors signing the petition, and the date of signing the petition. A petition proposing an ordinance must be submitted to the municipal clerk within ten (10) months of the date of the first signature supporting the petition.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1002 Determining validity of petition; certification.

As soon as an initiative petition is filed, the municipal clerk shall determine whether it contains sufficient legal signatures. If the petition is legally sufficient, the clerk shall immediately certify it to the governing body of the municipality.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1003 Adoption by governing body or submission to electors.

An ordinance proposed by a valid initiative petition shall either be adopted within twenty (20) days by the governing body or submitted to a vote of the municipal electors at a special election to be held not more than sixty (60) nor less than twenty (20) days thereafter. The ordinance proposed may also be submitted to a vote of the municipal electors at a primary or general election only if a valid initiative petition is received not less than one hundred ten (110) days before the election if for a primary and not less than seventy (70) days before the election if for a general election.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1004 Adoption by electors; repealing or amending.

(a) If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question vote in favor of a proposed initiative ordinance, it is adopted and may not be repealed or amended except by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the municipality. (b) The municipal governing body may submit to a vote of the people at a special election or a regular municipal, primary or general election, the question of repealing or amending an ordinance adopted by initiative petition.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1005 Ordinance adopted by governing body subject to referendum vote.

An ordinance adopted by a municipal governing body shall be subject to a referendum vote if a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors registered in the city or town is filed with the municipal clerk not later than twenty (20) days after the ordinance is first published after adoption as provided by law. To be counted the electors shall be registered voters when the completed petition is submitted for verification. The referendum petition shall set forth the ordinance in full and shall contain the signatures and residence addresses of persons signing the petition.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1006 Legal sufficiency of referendum petition.

The municipal clerk shall determine if the referendum petition meets the requirements of W.S. 22-23-1005, and if he finds a petition legally sufficient, he shall certify it to the governing body who shall suspend the ordinance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-23-1007 Partial repeal of ordinance subject to referendum; acceptance or rejection by electors.

If the governing body does not entirely repeal an ordinance subject to referendum, it shall submit the question to the electors of the municipality in the same manner as an ordinance proposed by initiative petition. If a majority of the electors voting on the question favor rejection, the ordinance shall not become effective. If a majority of the electors voting on the question do not favor rejection, the ordinance shall become effective after the vote is canvassed.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title22.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026