Case Summary
LWVWY filed an amicus brief in federal court supporting a lawsuit challenging HB 156, a state law that imposed documentary proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration. The brief argued the new law severely burdened the right to vote and was unjustified.
In March 2025, the Wyoming Legislature enacted HB 156, a law that imposed a requirement that voters prove their citizenship when registering to vote. Wyoming is one of the states exempt from the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act and has same-day voter registration as well as frequent voter purges. In the last voter purge, more than 28% of registered voters were purged after they did not vote in the last election.
HB 156 imposes the following requirements to register to vote. Applicants must have been a “bona fide” resident for 30 days and provide a valid Wyoming driver's license that does not show they are a non-citizen, a tribal ID, a driver's license compliant with Real ID that does not show non-citizen status, a passport, a certificate of U.S. citizenship, naturalization certificate, draft card/record, consular report of birth abroad, or an original/certified copy of a birth certificate from the United States with an official seal.
On May 9, 2025, Equality State Policy Center (ESPC), a coalition of labor, social justice, and conservation organizations, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, asserting HB 156 was unconstitutional. ESPC argued the law was an undue burden on the right to vote under the First and Fourteenth Amendment by burdening new voters with additional documentation requirements without justification and exacerbating the effects of the state’s large-scale voter purges. ESPC also claimed the law was unconstitutionally vague under the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments by allowing county clerks to reject applicants’ proof of citizenship based on “any indication” they were not a citizen.
On July 11, 2025, the League of Women Voters of Wyoming (LWVWY) filed an amicus brief supporting ESPC. The brief argued the Wyoming Secretary of State was incorrectly using precedent to defend the law by requesting the court apply the lowest level of scrutiny, rational basis review to HB 156. LWVWY also asserted HB 156 would significantly burden the right to vote without any valid state interest or justification, particularly for lower-income voters, who often lack passports; elderly voters, who are less likely to drive or have a state issued ID; and voters who are homebound or have disabilities, who also often lack the necessary documentation.
LWV of Wyoming was represented by CLC and Robinson Bramlet LLC.
LWV Timeline
ESPC files lawsuit
The Equality State Policy Center files a federal lawsuit asserting HB 156 is unconstitutional under the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.
Plaintiffs move for preliminary injunction
The plaintiffs file a motion for a preliminary injunction, asking for enforcement of HB 156 to be put on hold while the case proceeds.
LWVWY files amicus brief
LWVWY files an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs. The brief argues the Secretary of State is incorrectly proposing a deferential standard of review for HB 156, and that the law significantly burdens voters with disabilities, student voters, and homebound voters, without justification.
District court dismisses case
The district court dismisses the case, ruling that the plaintiffs did not have sufficient standing to sue.