Wyoming's 2022 Primary Election: Early Voting Trends and Challenges
Wyoming's primary election is featuring several high-profile races, such as the governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House. However, early voting turnout seems to be lower compared to the last election cycle, possibly due to the intense race between Liz Cheney and Harriet Hageman in 2022. Changes in election laws, including a shorter early voting period, may also be affecting voter participation. In Campbell County, where Republicans dominate, early voting numbers are slightly behind the record-breaking 2022 election. The elections coordinator has made adjustments to streamline the voting process, but some voters are still confused about recent election law changes.
In Teton County, the anticipation for early voters to show up is high, but it remains uncertain if they will surpass the turnout from the 2022 election, which was driven by the closely watched race between Liz Cheney and Harriet Hageman. The 2022 election saw record-breaking voter participation, with international attention on the state. Despite a steady stream of voters, Teton County is still below the early voting numbers from the previous election cycle.
The 2022 election cycle brought significant changes to Wyoming elections, including a deadline for changing party affiliations. Teton County led the charge in party affiliation changes, with many voters still surprised by the new rules. A residency requirement law has also caught newcomers off guard. In Park County, early and absentee voting started slow but picked up momentum towards the end of the week, putting the county on track for a typical turnout. The county is expected to break its previous primary record for early votes but is experiencing a drop in absentee ballots compared to previous elections.
Natrona County is seeing a surge in early in-person voting but a decline in absentee ballots. Despite the new election laws, there have been no major effects reported. Sweetwater County has also experienced an increase in early voting and a decrease in absentee ballots. The county clerk noted that the party change deadline has been challenging for voters, but overall, the impact of new election laws has been minimal.
Laramie County has observed an increase in early in-person voting but a decrease in absentee ballots compared to the previous election cycle. Voters in the county have expressed frustration with the influx of political mailers, calls, and text messages leading up to the primary. Overall, Wyoming counties are navigating the election process amidst changes in election laws and varying voter turnout trends.