Absentee voting begins in Albany County this week on Thursday at the Albany County Courthouse.
Albany County voters, who wish to do so, can submit a ballot as early as Thursday at the courthouse. RoseMarie London, Albany County election clerk, said Wyoming is a “no-excuse needed” absentee voting state.
“Some people use it as a convenience and some use it when they are going to be out of town,” she said. “Some people like to sit with their ballot for a while, and some do their research ahead of time and go Election Day.”
Nationwide, 27 other states provide the same no-excuse required voting policies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Andrew Garner, University of Wyoming political science professor, said absentee voting is noticeably beneficial to college students.
“It does make it easier, especially for students out of state if they still have residence in their home state,” Garner said. “It gives them the opportunity to vote.”
Absentee voting does not pose a financial burden or any additional costs to running an election, London said. Garner noted costs might even be lowered, considering there is less transportation involved locally, statewide and even nationwide.
“Financially, it boils down to what the state values. It definitely makes it easier for people to vote,” Garner said.
Students looking to vote this fall can seek assistance at the county courthouse, London said. Although the clerks cannot help with absentee voting out of state, they can assist with changes in voter registration and requesting absentee ballots from counties throughout Wyoming.
“If you are student living here for four years, it’s perfectly within your right to change [voter registration],” London said. “Basically, you have to declare your residence in Albany County as your primary residence during this election cycle.”
Another source of information is Pokes Votes, a non-partisan campaign on campus that works to engage and educate students on voting. The campaign hosts “voter drives” that help students register to vote in Albany County or access an absentee ballot from their home county Bryce Mittlestadt, a UW undergraduate and Service, Leadership and Community Engagement coordinator, said.
“College students are underrepresented. The big push is how to fulfill civic duty, and it’s a necessity that we participate, especially during mid terms, because these are the issues that affect us most,” Mittlestadt said.
The deadline for Wyoming absentee ballots is Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, by 7 p.m.
