Former President Donald Trump on Thursday backed state-level legislation that would end crossover voting in Wyoming primary elections.
The bill, introduced by State Senator Bo Biteman (R-Ranchester), would prevent an individual from changing party affiliations on the day of the primary elections.
If a voter sought to vote in a specific primary, they would have to register with the preferred party no “later than the first day on which an application for nomination may be filed,” which is roughly three months before.
“The Wyoming State Senate is considering SF0097, introduced by Patriot Senator Bo Biteman, to protect the integrity of Wyoming primary elections. This critically important bill ensures that the voters in each party will separately choose their nominees for the general election, which is how it should be! It makes total sense that only Democrats vote in the Democrat primary and only Republicans vote in the Republican primary. This bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement and Support. Every Member of the Wyoming Senate should vote for SF0097,” Trump said in a statement.
If enacted by the state officials, the bill would go into effect immediately. Therefore, it may impact Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s reelection, as Republicans fear Democrats may vote in the GOP primary to help one of Trump’s strongest critics.
“This practice has been going on for far too long in our state,” Biteman said. “It is not fair, it is not right, and it is harming the integrity of our party nomination process. This bill will go a long way toward ending this up to now-legal, but unethical behavior, and restore confidence in our party nominating process. Party-switching cancels out the vote of actual party members by those who wish to game the system and influence the outcome of their competing party’s nominating election.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bo Biteman” by Bo Biteman.Â
