List of Wyoming ballot measures explained

The U.S. state of Wyoming has had a system of direct voting since 1968, when voters adopted a constitutional amendment allowing measures to be placed on the ballot. Only years when ballot measures were on the general election ballot are listed.

Background

Wyoming's ballot measure procedure has been described by the Initiative & Referendum Institute as "one of the most onerous" in the nation.^[1] In order to place a citizen-initiated initiative on the ballot, measure sponsors must gather signatures equal to 15% of ballots cast in the previous election, along with at least 15% of voters in two-thirds of Wyoming counties. These requirements, coupled with the legislature's ability to remove ballot measures if they adopt a substantially similar law, make placing measures on the ballot exceptionally difficult.^[2] As a result, most measures voted on in the general election are placed on the ballot by the legislature, not the voters.

There are three types of ballot measures in Wyoming:^[3]

• Initiated state statues are measures that would create new state law. They are sponsored by voters and placed on the ballot after meeting signature requirements.
• Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments are changes to the Wyoming Constitution and are automatically placed on the ballot after approval by the legislature.
• Veto referenda are measures to repeal state law. They are sponsored by voters and placed on the ballot after meeting signature requirements.

1968—1999

1968

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment No. 1	A constitutional amendment to repeal the school poll tax^[4]	^[5]	73,872 (69.47%)	32,457 (30.53%)
scope=row	Amendment No. 2	A constitutional amendment to create an initiative & referendum system in Wyoming, provided such measures receive at least 100 signatures in support		72,009 (74.77%)	24,299 (25.23%)

1970

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment relating to public funds	^[6]	75,996 (78.63%)	20,648 (21.37%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 19		53,997 (52.72%)	48,418 (47.28%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment allowing the state to invest education funds		64,970 (62.29%)	30,170 (31.71%)
scope=row	Amendment 4	A constitutional amendment relating to the salaries of public officials		56,940 (60.01%)	37,940 (39.99%)
scope=row	Amendment 5	A constitutional amendment relating to the investment of county school funds		63,554 (67.52%)	30,570 (32.48%)

1972

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment providing a form of home rule for cities and towns	^[7]	97,026 (76.18%)	30,339 (23.82%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment permitting state legislators to accept appointments to other offices		72,798 (56.71%)	55,580 (43.29%)
scope=row	Amendment 4	A constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the number of justices on the Wyoming Supreme Court		86,539 (66.97%)	42,676 (33.03%)
scope=row	Amendment 5	A constitutional amendment stating that the legislature should meet for no more than 60 working days per period		76,170 (60.27%)	50,209 (39.73%)
scope=row	Amendment 6	A constitutional amendment allowing counties to levy an annual tax		51,895 (40.69%)	75,630 (59.31%)
scope=row	Amendment 7	A constitutional amendment allowing counties to create indebtedness		63,239 (49.97%)	63,315 (50.03%)

1974

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment creating new protections against double taxation	Unclear	77,513 (68.42%)	35,771 (31.58%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment creating a mineral excise tax	Unclear	78,842 (70.87%)	32,414 (29.13%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment establishing a statewide school levy		51,392 (45.06%)	62,667 (54.94%)

1976

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment relating to judges^[8]		92,559 (66.48%)	46,664 (33.52%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment increasing the city, county, and school indebtedness limit		43,951 (31.29%)	96,526 (68.71%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment relating to the Wyoming criminal code		106,931 (77.50%)	31,045 (22.50%)

1978

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment permitting women to work in mines	^[9]	82,957 (66.11%)	44,446 (34.89%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment equalizing school funding across all districts		83,552 (66.24%)	42,586 (33.76%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment permitting the construction of a state prison for men and a state prison for women		82,537 (65.00%)	44,445 (35.00%)

1982

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment permitting the legislature to invest state funds	^[10]	77,005 (50.81%)	74,548 (49.19%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment increase state education taxes		100,820 (65.80%)	52,409 (34.20%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment allowing the state treasurer to seek re-election		126,985 (82.58%)	26,788 (17.42%)

1984

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to write off uncollected debts in certain circumstances	^[11]	119,757 (67.98%)	56,402 (32.02%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment allowing the investment of employee retirement funds		116,791 (66.20%)	59,637 (33.80%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment clarifying that officials appointed by the governor can be removed by the governor		87,920 (50.31%)	86,829 (49.69%)

1986

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment modifying the pass requirements for ballot measures in Wyoming	^[12]	104,759 (72.19%)	40,357 (27.81%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment allowing the governor to remove state officials appointed by the same governor		128,476 (84.07%)	24,348 (15.93%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to modify the duties of the state board of equalization		107,507 (73.86%)	38,050 (26.14%)
scope=row	Amendment 4	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to create a state investment fund for economic development loans		111,590 (72.93%)	41,420 (27.07%)
scope=row	Amendment 5	A constitutional amendment providing that any increase in judicial salaries apply to all judges		79,557 (52.98%)	70,602 (47.02%)
scope=row	Amendment 6	A constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to expand workers compensation		106,591 (71.57%)	42,339 (28.43%)

1990

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment to prevent sheriffs from keeping fees collected in civil cases	^[14]	124,789 (81.11%)	29,054 (18.89%)
scope=row	Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to appoint a state examiner, geologist, and inspector of mines		82,233 (55.73%)	65,317 (44.27%)
scope=row	Amendment 3	A constitutional amendment transferring the powers of the Wyoming state board of charities to the legislature		86,195 (59.88%)	57,763 (40.12%)
scope=row	Amendment 4	A constitutional amendment restricting the use of public employee retirement funds to purposes directly benefiting public employees		112,213 (75.45%)	36,511 (24.55%)

1992

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to invest the state permanent fund in equities^[15]	Unclear	--	--
scope=row	Initiative 1	An initiative to ban triple trailers in Wyoming	^[16]	165,879 (83.83%)	31,997 (16.17%)
scope=row	Initiative 2	An initiative to establish term limits for elected officials in Wyoming		150,113 (77.00%)	44,424 (23.00%)
scope=row	Initiative 3	An initiative to increase railroad regulation		130,646 (71.28%)	52,835 (28.72%)

1994

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment 1	A constitutional amendment to create a criminal sentence of life without parole and to limit the governor's parole power		--	--
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment 2	A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to invest up to 25% of the state's permanent fund in equities		--	--
scope=row	Initiative 1	An initiative to prohibit abortions except in cases where pregnancy endangers the mother's life, rape, or incest		61,980 (31.09%)	137,379 (68.91%)
scope=row	Initiative 2	An initiative to permit some forms of gambling at the county level subject to a vote of the people		75,547 (60.20%)	114,273 (39.80%)
scope=row	Initiative 3	An initiative to allow the state treasurer to invest up to $500 million in financial institutions		78,978 (39.94%)	118,760 (60.06%)

1996

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment relating to redistricting	^[17]	91,081 (48.46%)	96,857 (51.54%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to most mentally ill people		122,658 (65.46%)	64,722 (34.54%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment C	A constitutional amendment allowing state funds to be invested in corporate stocks if the legislature dictates		126,587 (64.81%)	68,727 (35.19%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment D	A constitutional amendment strengthening the Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics		177,513 (89.08%)	21,751 (10.92%)
scope=row	Initiative No. 1	An initiative requiring candidates for office to indicate whether they support term limits on the ballot		105,093 (54.14%)	89,018 (45.86%)
scope=row	Initiative No. 2	An initiative to repeal Senate Enrolled Act 4, which extended term limits for legislators		104,544 (53.70%)	90,138 (46.30%)

1998

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to reapportion its membership as soon as census data is available^[18]	^[19]	117,638 (74.95%)	39,321 (25.05%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment modifying the requirements for citizen-initiated measures to be placed on the ballot		97,846 (61.76%)	60,582 (38.24%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment C	A constitutional amendment mandating that funds allocated to Wyoming's Workers Compensation Fund only be used for specific purposes		143,920 (88.24%)	19,178 (11.76%)

2000—

2002

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to convene special legislative sessions if a majority of members agree^[21]	^[22]	112,438 (66.29%)	57,187 (33.71%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to handle disputes relating to presidential electors		110,906 (65.78%)	57,708 (34.22%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment C	A constitutional amendment limiting the governor's line-item veto authority only to general appropriations bills		73,240 (44.22%)	92,396 (55.78%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment D	A constitutional amendment requiring constitutional amendments be submitted to the voters before being approved by the Governor		87,786 (52.74%)	78,679 (47.26%)

2004

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment to allow school districts to bring in more revenue yearly^[23]	^[24]	122,038 (55.78%)	96,762 (44.22%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to authorize local governments to access expanded funding sources provided they receive vocal approval		148,808 (66.16%)	76,115 (33.84%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment C	A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to create laws requiring dispute resolution before medical malpractice lawsuits		124,178 (52.99%)	110,169 (47.01%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment D	A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to create laws limiting damages in medical malpractice lawsuits		115,981 (49.65%)	117,602 (50.35%)

2006

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment clarifying that all money in the Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund are permanent funds of the state	^[25]	130,735 (74.05%)	45,817 (25.95%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment allowing a greater amount of money to be distributed throughout the state for the purpose of funding school districts	^[26]	107,481 (58.15%)	77,338 (41.85%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment C	A constitutional amendment creating a permanent fund for higher education scholarships and quality improvements	^[27]	139,396 (75.05%)	46,342 (24.95%)

2008

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment rewriting the oath of office required for public officials to take office^[28]	^[29]	191,787 (81.75%)	42,821 (18.25%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment modifying the requirements for citizen-led initiatives to be placed on the ballot		120,333 (54.21%)	101,655 (45.79%)

2012

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment forbidding a mandatory health care system in Wyoming and allowing citizens to pay any health care provider for services^[30]	^[31]	181,984 (76.98%)	54,405 (23.02%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment establishing a citizen's right to hunt and fish		212,561 (89.26%)	25,564 (10.74%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment C	A constitutional amendment expanding the authority of district court commissioners		88,562 (41.90%)	122,824 (58.10%)

2022

Measure Name	Description	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment A	A constitutional amendment to allow local governments such as counties and cities to invest public funds in equities^[38]	^[39]	103,389 (56.78%)	78,714 (43.22%)
scope=row	Constitutional Amendment B	A constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age for judges from 70 to 75		74,650 (39.19%)	115,838 (60.81%)

2024

See also

• Elections in Wyoming

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wyoming . 2022-09-11 . Initiative & Referendum Institute.
2. Book: Matsusaka, John G. . For the Many or the Few: The Initiative, Public Policy, and American Democracy . The University of Chicago Press . 2004 . 9780226510811 . Chicago.
3. Web site: List of Wyoming ballot measures . 2022-10-20 . Ballotpedia.
4. Book: Referenda and Primary Election Materials Part 45: Referenda Elections for Wyoming . . 2002 . Ann Arbor.
5. Book: Thomson, Thyra . 1969 Wyoming Official Directory and 1968 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1969 . Cheyenne . 82 . Thyra Thomson . Wyoming State Archives.
6. Book: Thomson, Thyra . 1971 Wyoming Official Director and 1970 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1971 . Cheyenne . 92 . Thyra Thomson . Wyoming State Archives.
7. Book: Thomson, Thyra . 1973 Wyoming Official Directory and 1972 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1973 . Cheyenne . 92 . Wyoming State Archives.
8. Book: Thomson, Thyra . 1977 Wyoming Official Directory and 1976 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1977 . Cheyenne . 127 . Wyoming State Archives.
9. Book: Thomson, Thyra . 1979 Wyoming Official Director and 1978 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1979 . Cheyenne . 133 . Wyoming State Archives.
10. Book: Thomson, Thyra . Wyoming Official Directory 1983 . State of Wyoming . 1983 . Cheyenne . 147 . Wyoming State Archives.
11. Book: Thomson, Thyra . Wyoming 1985 Official Directory and 1984 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1985 . Cheyenne . 157 . Wyoming State Archives.
12. Book: Karpan, Kathy . 1987 Wyoming Official Directory and 1986 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1987 . Hill . Dawn . Cheyenne . 165 . Kathy Karpan . Wyoming State Archives.
13. Book: karpan, Kathy . 1989 Wyoming Official Directory and 1988 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1989 . Hill . Dawn . Cheyenne . 172 . Wyoming State Archives.
14. Book: Karpan, Kathy . 1991 Wyoming Official Directory and 1990 Election Returns . State of Wyoming . 1991 . Hill . Dawn . Cheyenne . 187 . Wyoming State Archives.
15. Web site: 2022-08-22 . Statewide Ballot Measures Database . 2022-09-14 . National Conference of State Legislatures.
16. Web site: 2021-07-01 . Past Initiative and Referendum Summary . 2022-10-19 . Wyoming Secretary of State's Office.
17. Web site: Statewide Issues Abstract . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
18. Web site: 1998 Ballot Issues . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
19. Web site: Statewide Issues Abstract . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
20. Web site: Statewide Issues and Candidates Abstract -- General Election -- November 7, 2000 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
21. Web site: 2002 Ballot Issues . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
22. Web site: Statewide Candidates' Abstract -- Official General Election Results -- November 5, 2002 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
23. Web site: Meyer . Joseph B. . 2004 Wyoming Voter's Guide . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
24. Web site: Statewide Candidates' Abstract - Official Wyoming General Election Results - November 2, 2004 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
25. Web site: Statewide Ballot Issues Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 7, 2006 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
26. Web site: Statewide Ballot Issues Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 7, 2006 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
27. Web site: Statewide Ballot Issues Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 7, 2006 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
28. Web site: Maxfield . Max . 2008 Wyoming Voter's Guide . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
29. Web site: Statewide Constitutional Amendments Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 4, 2008 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
30. Web site: 2012 General Election Ballot Issues . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
31. Web site: Statewide Constitutional Amendments Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 6, 2012 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
32. Web site: Todd . Leah . 2016-01-21 . Open board? Out-of-state UW trustees proposition makes November ballot . 2022-09-14 . Casper Star Tribune.
33. Web site: Statewide Constitutional Amendments Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 4, 2014 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
34. Web site: 2016 General Election Ballot Issues . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
35. Web site: Statewide Constitutional Amendments Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 8, 2016 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
36. Web site: 2020 General Election Ballot Issues . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200607154932/https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2020/2020_BallotIssues.pdf . 2020-06-07 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
37. Web site: Statewide Constitutional Amendments Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 3, 2020 . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
38. Web site: 2022 General Election Ballot Issues . 2022-09-14 . Wyoming Secretary of State.
39. https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2022/Results/General/2022_General_Statewide_Constitutional_Amendment_Summary.pdf “Statewide Constitutional Amendments Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 8, 2022”
40. Web site: Kinskey . Dave . 2023-03-11 . Column: Property tax reduction resurrection . 2024-08-06 . The Sheridan Press.