Fall is finally in the air across Wyoming. Along with turning leaves and cooler temperatures come yard signs, social media ads and other electioneering activities as we head into the 2026 general election on Nov. 3.
Opinion
As board members for the Equality State Policy Center, an organization with a multidecade mission to encourage civic engagement in Wyoming, we firmly believe that our state is stronger when Wyomingites participate in civic life by voting. High voter turnout and robust participation in elections ensure those elected will truly represent the interests and objectives of people from their communities.
We encourage you to learn the rules via the secretary of state and your local county elections office and to use that knowledge and exercise your democratic franchise by casting your ballot this fall, whether by absentee mail-in ballot, in-person early voting or at the polls on Election Day — Nov. 3. Importantly, for those who may not yet be registered to vote, or for those who may have been removed from registration lists after not voting in a previous election, you can register (or reregister) and vote in person on Election Day at your polling place. But be sure to bring an acceptable means of identification. From school and local government funding to public lands to personal liberties to many other issues, Wyoming has a lot at stake this election year. Our democracy needs all of us to participate, so please become informed on the issues and candidates and vote for the people who will best represent you to create the Wyoming we all need and deserve.
Creating a thriving democracy in our state will take more than voting this year. We also encourage the newly elected — and returning — legislators and decision-makers to help us refine our voting processes to build a Wyoming where every citizen has the ability and access to cast a vote for the candidates that best represent them.
This fall’s election demonstrates that Wyoming’s elections are safe and secure, and as opposed to restricting access to voting by creating burdensome and hard-to-implement rules, we need our elected officials to tear down the red tape. Democracy works better for all hardworking Wyomingites when it is inclusive and accessible to all.
We call on our decision-makers to be open-minded and seek innovative solutions to make systems and processes that encourage our voting-eligible electorate to participate. Our organization has championed policies like ranked-choice voting and preserving ballot drop boxes to return mailed ballots swiftly and securely, while fiercely opposing new restrictions on how and when Wyomingites can register to vote and cast their ballots.
As we move from this election season to the next, let’s not revisit failed pieces of legislation that further restrict voting access or fumble the accurate checks and balances within the system. Rather, let’s work together to create a Wyoming that is free and fair for all of our people.
