• State law now requires early party registration to participate in Primary

Wyoming residents have until May 13 to declare or change a political party affiliation ahead of the Wyoming Primary Election. State law now requires voters to be registered with their chosen political party by the deadline in order to participate in the party’s 2026 Primary Election on August 18, 2026. If a voter is registered as undeclared, they will not be able to vote for candidates in the primary, unless they are a town resident and will be eligible to vote for town council.

Party affiliation does not affect participation in the general election, which is on Tuesday November 3. Primary elections let voters choose which candidate will represent their party in the general election. In the general election, voters are free to vote for candidates from any party.

Voters may update party affiliation in person at the Lincoln County Branch Office in Afton or the County Clerk’s Office in Kemmerer by close of business on May 13. The form can also be completed, signed, notarized and mailed with a copy of ID to the Clerk’s Office, but it needs to be received by May 13. The form can also be completed at one of the municipal clerk offices but would still need to reach the County Clerk’s Office no later than May 13. The form can not be filled out and submitted online.

“It’s only necessary to do this by the May 13 deadline for any current registered voter wishing to make a change or declare a party,” explained Lincoln County Clerk April Brunski. “Otherwise, whatever party the voter was last registered under would be the same. Anyone who is unsure may call me to check.”

“This date does not apply to new voters,” Brunski continued. “They may register up until two weeks prior to the election, or during that two-week window (up until the day before the election) if they are voting absentee or may register at the polls on election day.”

According to Gail Symmons with the non-partisan WyVote initiative, only 27% of eligible Wyoming voters participated in the 2024 Primary election, despite the fact that the majority of local races are decided in the primary.

“This is pretty critical that people understand why it is that they register and vote for their own benefit,” Symmons stated during a live interview on SVI Radio. “Right now there are just over 11 thousand registered voters in Lincoln County as of January 2026. Of that 11 thousand, a little over 9 thousand are Republican. Almost 1,000 are unaffiliated. So roughly 10% of the registered voters in Lincoln County are unaffiliated.

“Now why is that critical? Because when they go to get a ballot in August, where most of the final results are determined, then all they will get on their ballot is town council or mayor if they live inside a town. That’s it. If they live in the county, it could be blank.”

The full interview with Symmons can be found at SVInews.com, with additional voting information at WyVote.vote. Anyone with questions regarding registration and party affiliation can contact the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office at (307) 877-9056.