CHEYENNE, WY – In a significant move that has garnered national attention, Wyoming officially became the first state in the U.S. to mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for all voter registrations, effective July 1, 2025. This new requirement, enacted through House Bill 156, means that individuals seeking to register to vote, or update an existing registration, must now provide specific documentation proving their U.S. citizenship.
The law, which Governor Mark Gordon allowed to pass without his signature earlier this year, has been a key initiative for Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who championed it as a vital step towards enhancing election integrity.2 Supporters of the measure argue it is necessary to prevent non-citizens from voting and bolster public confidence in the electoral process.3
Under the new regulations, acceptable forms of proof of U.S. citizenship include a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization papers, or a driver’s license/REAL ID that does not indicate non-citizen status. This goes beyond standard voter ID laws, which typically require identification to vote at the polls, by requiring citizenship documentation during the registration process itself.4
While proponents celebrate this as a landmark achievement for secure elections, the law has also drawn criticism from voting rights advocates.5 Concerns have been raised that the strict requirements could disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those who may not readily have access to the specified documents, such as elderly citizens, rural residents, or individuals whose names have changed due to marriage. Legal challenges to the law have already been filed, though a federal judge recently dismissed one major lawsuit on procedural grounds, leaving the law in effect for now.6
Wyoming’s move is a notable development in the ongoing national debate over voter access and election security, and it is expected to influence similar legislative efforts in other states across the country.
