Gordon issues order on voting

CASPER — Gov. Mark Gordon has ordered state agencies to take steps to ensure Wyoming’s elections continue to be secure. The executive order signed Thursday is in recognition of voter concerns over non-citizens attempting to vote nationwide, according to a press release from the governor’s office. 

The state’s chief election officer — Secretary of State Chuck Gray — applauded the decision but also stated it does not go far enough to secure Wyoming’s elections. 

The order prohibits state agencies from providing voter registration materials to non-citizens and also prohibits the agencies from coordinating with any federal programs or agencies to provide voter registration materials to non-citizens in Wyoming. 

State agencies must also confirm that there is no requirement to provide voter registration materials to non-citizens or otherwise require voter registration activities for non-citizens when entering into or renewing contracts with federal agencies or partners. 

It is illegal under current federal law for non-citizens to vote in federal elections. 

The order additionally states that state agencies are to “expeditiously” report any suspected instances of non-citizen voting in the carrying out of their duties. 

“Recognizing the Biden/Harris Administration’s disastrous border policies compel us to do all we can to protect the integrity of our elections, I, alongside fellow Republican governors, have taken the action afforded to me by the Constitution and the Laws of Wyoming to confirm the security of Wyoming’s elections,” Gordon said. 

The order encourages the Secretary of State and County Clerks to continue to effectively and efficiently use the tools provided to each of them by Wyoming’s election code to investigate and verify voter registration.

“Residents can be confident that this order removes any confusion and clarifies for our agencies — should there be any doubt — that they will not enable or facilitate any noncitizen to register to vote or help them to vote,” Gordon said. 

Following the signing of the order, Gray  welcomed the decision but stated stricter rules are still needed. 

“The governor’s statement and executive order show he may be beginning to take the issues we previously identified,” Gray said in a press release. “But this statement and executive order do not address in any way the problem he created when he vetoed our rulemaking in April, which would have been the key fix to stop illegal aliens from voting.” 

Gordon in April vetoed proposed voting rules by Gray that would have required Wyoming voters to prove residency in the state if their identification did not already show it. 

Gordon, in a letter to Gray in April, stated that Gray’s proposed rules would need to be passed by the legislature. 

“I do not believe it is within the scope of authority delegated to the Secretary of State by law,” Gordon stated. 

Gray at several times since the veto has called for stricter voting rules. 

“Wyoming needs proof of residency and citizenship verification for voting to ensure that only Wyomingites are voting in Wyoming elections,” Gray said. “As I have previously said, we also need a durational residency requirement. I continue to hope that Governor Gordon will agree to work with us and the legislature to actually address the problem head-on.” 

There is no evidence of widespread voting by illegal immigrants in Wyoming. 

When asked, Gray has only pointed to a single case in which “an illegal alien” was found to be on the Wyoming voter rolls.