skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Election 2024 - close races to decide control of US Congress; Alabama felony voting ban leaves thousands disenfranchised as polls open; Glynn County under watch as key Election Day player; PA voting report: Strengthening election integrity amid potential disruptions.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Philadelphia's District Attorney says the city is prepared for any election violence, doctors advise about how to handle Election Stress Disorder, and Oregon has a high number of women in government.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Wyoming Legislature Tackles Election Integrity

play audio
Play

Monday, January 23, 2023   

Election integrity has emerged as a top concern for Wyoming lawmakers gathered in Cheyenne, but it remains unclear what priorities will emerge from the new Legislature.

Jenn Lowe, executive director of the Equality State Policy Center, pointed to House Bill 55, which aimed to make elections more fair by shuffling up the order in which candidates appear on the general ballot. The bill cleared committee but died late last week in the House, ensuring majority-party candidates will continue to get top billing.

"Statistics show that you get a bump in votes just by being at the top," Lowe pointed out. "Small bumps, maybe 3%, but in some really close races, it can really make a difference."

House Bill 49 aimed to ensure no candidate wins an election with less than 50% of the vote, a key concern for voters, by allowing city and county governments to opt for instant runoff elections using ranked choice voting. Lowe noted redoing elections is expensive and produces significantly lower voter turnout. The measure was killed in committee on Friday.

Senate File 40 hopes to shed light on out-of-state money, which Lowe argued played an oversized role in the last election. The measure would hold federal and state political action committees to the same standards. Under current law, only state committees have to report how they are filling candidates' campaign coffers.

"This is a push to level the playing field," Lowe explained. "If you're going to come in and donate money to Wyoming legislative candidates, regardless if you're registered as a federal PAC or a state PAC, you're going to have to disclose who your funders are."

The measure will get its third reading on Tuesday. Lowe added despite some setbacks this session, her group will continue to press Wyoming voters and their representatives to stand up for what she sees as the true value of elections.

"An election should have as many people as eligible participating and engaging and learning about the process," Lowe contended. "Some of these policies really feel like they're trying to shut people out."

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Some organizations point to low pay, racial bias in school systems and retention challenges as the biggest obstacles to recruiting more Black men into teaching. (RDNE/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

In a country where Black men make up less than 2% of the teaching workforce, a program in Jacksonville is working to shift the balance by recruiting 1…


Social Issues

play sound

A package of New York City bills can help preserve affordable housing. The Community Land Act creates more pathways for communities to purchase and …

Environment

play sound

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…


Social Issues

play sound

With concerns about election integrity in the air, experts are reminding Marylanders determining the outcome may take a while. Maryland will utilize …

Only 32% of South Dakotans ages 18-29 voted in the 2020 general election, one of the lowest rates in the country, according to civic engagement research from Tufts University. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A new analysis shows South Dakota's rate of youth voter registration in 2024 has plummeted from 2020. Data from the Center for Information and …

Social Issues

play sound

Oregon has the third highest percent of women in city government, according to a new report from Rutgers University. It may be proof of the success …

Health and Wellness

play sound

On this Election Day, Indiana residents may be feeling the effects of what some are calling election stress disorder, but there are several ways to …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021