Defending Wyoming Voters from Unnecessary Barriers to Their Freedom to Vote (Equality State Policy Center v. Wyoming Secretary of State)

At a Glance

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a brief in a lawsuit seeking to stop a new law that forces Wyomingites to jump through unnecessary hoops to register to vote. CLC’s brief on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Wyoming seeks to protect the freedom to vote for all Wyoming voters.  

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Active
Updated
Issues
Voting and Elections
About This Case/Action

Wyoming became the latest state to introduce and pass a law (HB 156) requiring individuals to jump through unnecessary and burdensome requirements to register to vote.  

Although these burdens will fall on all Wyoming voters going to the polls, they will not be distributed evenly. Instead, they will disproportionately impact those that struggle to meet the new requirements, including historically disenfranchised groups like student voters, low-income and elderly voters and voters with disabilities.    

When registering to vote, individuals already must swear that they are U.S. citizens, whether they were born here or moved here. These existing, strict laws ensure that only American citizens vote in federal elections, and lying about your citizenship can lead to serious consequences, including fines, jail time and deportation.  

There is no reason voters should have to jump through extra hoops and provide additional documentation to cast their ballot — these barriers do not make our elections any more secure, they just keep eligible Americans from voting.

Under HB 156, Wyoming citizens who could previously register to vote with a student ID, state or federal employment ID, military ID, or ID cards issued to military dependents can no longer rely on those documents to register to vote.  

Now, new registrants must provide additional documents from a new, restrictive list of qualifying documents that is different from the list already registered voters use.  

Coupled with the most aggressive voter purge program in the nation, which removes voters from the rolls if they fail to vote in a single general election (midterm or presidential), HB 156 will confuse and needlessly burden Wyoming voters.  

In May of 2025, a Wyoming-based nonprofit, Equality State Policy Center, sued Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray to stop and invalidate HB 156’s new voter registration requirements as unconstitutionally burdening the right to vote.

Campaign Legal Center filed a brief on behalf of League of Women Voters of Wyoming ("The League”) clarifying the appropriate judicial scrutiny that should be applied to the right to vote and demonstrating HB 156’s failure to justify or tailor the burdens it imposes.  

The League is a nonpartisan, grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging informed and active participation in government, including through civic education, get out the vote efforts, voter registration promotion and advocacy for voters’ rights in Wyoming.  

The League seeks to build on Wyoming’s trailblazing legacy as the first state to grant women the unconditional right to vote by ensuring today that all voters — including those from traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities — have the opportunity and information they need to exercise their right to vote. 

Associated Cases & Actions

Protecting the Promise of American Citizenship

Native Voters’ Fight for Fair Maps Reaches Supreme Court

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St. Paul, MN — After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit doubled down on their decision to strip voters in seven states of fair representation, Campaign Legal Center and co-counsel have now filed a motion to stay that Court’s decision, in preparation to seek U.S. Supreme Court review.

The Turtle Mountain Chippewa Band, Spirit Lake Nation, and several individual Native American voters in North Dakota have been fighting for fair representation against the legislatively adopted map since 2022. This past May, the Eighth Circuit boldly declared that they no longer have the right to challenge racially discriminatory maps or laws under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

Alongside co-counsel — Native American Rights Fund (NARF), the Law Offices of Bryan L. Sells, LLC, and Robins Kaplan LLP — Campaign Legal Center intends to make clear that Americans in every state have the right to challenge discriminatory maps. The Eighth Circuit has set a dangerous precedent for Americans’ voting rights, and we will fight to reverse it.

“Voters in North Dakota, throughout the Eighth Circuit, and across the United States, deserve fair maps — maps that allow voters an equal voice in our democracy. For sixty years, voters have sued to enforce their right under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to voting maps free from racial discrimination. Native Americans in North Dakota vindicated their rights at trial and won a fair map, after facing a long history of discrimination,” said Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at Campaign Legal Center. “We will fight to make sure the Supreme Court preserves the right of all voters to sue under the Voting Rights Act to stop discriminatory maps and voting laws.”

For decades, Tribal Nations and Native voters in North Dakota have fought for a fair chance to vote and have their voices heard. The Eighth Circuit’s decision prevents voters in seven states from suing when they are racially discriminated against in violation of the Voting Rights Act. That decision is plainly wrong, and it will have a huge impact on Native voters. We are committed to fighting this decision, including taking it to the U.S. Supreme Court," said NARF staff attorney Lenny Powell.

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.

Learn more about CLC. Don't miss out on our latest resources: Subscribe to President Trevor Potter's newsletter on LinkedIn or email, tune in to the latest season of our award-winning podcast, Democracy Decoded, and join our livestreamed events. 

Issues
Redistricting

The Fight to Abolish Felony Disenfranchisement

Submitted by ekrug on

Felony disenfranchisement, a Jim Crow relic which takes away an individual’s freedom to vote if they have been convicted of a felony, is a stain on our democracy. This practice excludes millions of Americans from participating in our elections depending on where they live, either because they have been disenfranchised under law or because of confusing or burdensome laws around restoring their voting rights.

Reconciliation Bill Passes the Senate Without Two Dangerous Provisions: Campaign Legal Center Reacts

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Washington, DC — Moments ago, the U.S. Senate passed the reconciliation bill (officially the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,”), which now goes back to the House of Representatives for final approval. Although the overall legislation is not yet law, Campaign Legal Center helped to secure a win for democratic safeguards by successfully pushing the Senate to remove two dangerous provisions from the bill before the chamber’s final vote.  

One of these provisions would have undermined judicial independence by making it harder for courts to enforce the law and protect constitutional rights. The other sought to block states from regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including in elections, despite bipartisan efforts across the country to address this growing threat. 

Thanks to the advocacy of Campaign Legal Center and many of our partners, both provisions were resoundingly defeated and removed from the final legislation.  

Trevor Potter, founder and president of Campaign Legal Center and former Republican chairman of the Federal Election Commission, issued the following statement:   

“Since debate began in the House on the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ my colleagues at Campaign Legal Center, and many others, have been working tirelessly against two proposed provisions that would have threatened our democracy. 

“Today, as the Senate passes the bill, I am relieved that both of these provisions have been successfully removed. This is evidence that the advocacy of those who are dedicated to the preservation of American democracy remains a worthy fight. 

“The first of these provisions would have limited the power of federal courts to hold government officials accountable to the Constitution and our laws. This alarming proposal could have allowed government officials to violate court orders with impunity, while helping the Trump administration evade nearly 200 judicial rulings that have already halted its activities. 

“The second provision would have compelled states to give up their right to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), including laws governing AI's use in our elections. More than 20 states, controlled by Republicans and Democrats alike, have already enacted such rules, which are meant to solve real challenges for our democracy. This provision was stripped from the bill by an overwhelming vote by the Senate this morning. 

“Through our advocacy, CLC is proud to have helped lead the fight to defeat these dangerous provisions. We vow to continue opposing these policies if they ever reappear in future bills, as well as similar threats to our democracy moving forward.”

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.

Learn more about CLC. Don't miss out on our latest resources: Subscribe to President Trevor Potter's newsletter on LinkedIn or email, tune in to the latest season of our award-winning podcast, Democracy Decoded, and join our livestreamed events. 

Campaign Legal Center Responds to SCOTUS Ruling Limiting Court Restraints on Unconstitutional Presidential Actions

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Washington, DC — The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in Trump v. CASA that the attempts by several lower courts to halt nationwide enforcement of President Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order were too broad. In denying the district courts’ nationwide injunction authority, the Supreme Court limits the power of the judiciary in favor of executive power — at the expense of Americans’ basic rights. 

In doing so, the Court overturned decades of precedent, expanding the power of the presidency at a time when we, as a nation, are veering dangerously close to authoritarianism.

Trevor Potter, president of Campaign Legal Center and former Republican chairman of the Federal Election Commission, released the following statement: 

“The Supreme Court’s ruling means that the judiciary will now have fewer tools to protect the constitutional rights of Americans. 

“When constitutional rights are at issue, these injunctions by district courts historically have promoted uniformity in the law and ensured that rights can be protected across the country until a final decision is reached on the merits. 

“With this ruling, the Supreme Court has stifled lower courts from stepping in to protect all Americans when the Trump administration, or any future presidential administration, engages in unconstitutional and lawless efforts. This is a huge shift in the balance of power and should put all Americans on notice that their day-to-day rights are now at stake.

“However, while the Court has significantly narrowed future pathways for relief, it has not closed them. There are indeed still pathways available via nationwide class action lawsuits and other legal remedies. Lower courts must continue the crucial work of holding the president accountable for unlawful conduct when these cases reach their courtrooms in the future.” 

Background: 

The birthright citizenship provision of the United States Constitution is the cornerstone of our democracy because it ensures that all Americans, regardless of who our parents are, have equal rights under the law and the opportunity to make our voices heard. It cannot be ended by any politician, including the president. 

Campaign Legal Center submitted several briefs on behalf of the Secure Families Initiative (SFI) urging the lower courts to strike down the president’s unconstitutional attempt to end birthright citizenship via executive order. 

The Supreme Court only ruled on the injunction authority question and did not address the merits of the president’s attempt to end birthright citizenship. Every court addressing the merits of that order has found it clearly unlawful. Campaign Legal Center will continue our efforts to ensure birthright citizenship is upheld as the law of the land. 

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Campaign Legal Center is a nonpartisan legal organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges facing American democracy. 

Founded in 2002, CLC fights for every American’s freedom to vote and participate meaningfully in the democratic process. 

Learn more about CLC. Don't miss out on our latest resources: Subscribe to President Trevor Potter's newsletter on LinkedIn or email, tune in to the latest season of our award-winning podcast, Democracy Decoded, and join our livestreamed events.

Issues
Voting and Elections
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