The Wyoming House of Representatives have passed a bill that would require the state's voters to present specific IDs in order to vote in person.
The bill requires voters to show a driver's license, state, tribal, or state student IDs, passport, military ID or a Medicare card before voting in person.
Those in support of the bill say it will prevent voter fraud and provide necessary security to Wyoming's elections, even though there is no proof of voter fraud in the state.
"It's important that we continue to strengthen our election processes to ensure public confidence," said the bill's sponsor Casper Rep. Chuck Gray. "The more confidence people have the more they will participate. And that's what we all want."
Wind River Rep. Andi Clifford opposes the bill and said it will create more access barriers.
"By passing this bill, it unequivocally equates to voter suppression and imposes a restriction on voting voting access. We need bills that ensure that voters choose their leaders, not the other way around," she said.
But Corporations Chair Dan Zwonitzer said they've worked to make sure all groups fit into the ID requirements
"I don't believe this suppresses anyone. You may have agreed with that, before the second reading amendments, but the bill as it stands now, who are we suppressing?" he said.
Zwonitzer added this law would also give the power to legislators to set the rules rather than giving room to the Wyoming Secretary of State's office to institute regulations.
The bill will now move to the Senate.
Have a question about this story? Contact the reporter, Catherine Wheeler, at cwheel11@uwyo.edu .
