CHEYENNE, WY – The Secretary of State’s Office announced today the beginning of the election cycle in Wyoming. This cycle starts with the 2020 Candidate Filing Period and the launching of an ongoing campaign, “VoteSafely Wyoming,” to inform voters on their options for casting a ballot in 2020 during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.
This week marks the beginning of the election season with the start of the candidate filing period on Thursday, May 14th. The filing period will end on Friday, May 29th at 5:00 p.m. MDT. All Republican and Democratic candidates for the office of U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Wyoming State Senator, and Wyoming State Representative must file with the Secretary of State’s Election Division in order to stand for election in the 2020 Primary Election which will take place on Tuesday, August 18th. Candidates for county and municipal offices must file with their local office.
“I truly hope that even though the times are uncertain, that many Wyoming citizens will feel called to serve our state and file to run for office,” said Secretary of State Edward Buchanan.
Candidates filing for office with the Secretary of State’s Office are encouraged to file on the Statewide Candidate Filing webpage. Once the filing period begins on Thursday, a list of candidates who have filed to run for office will be posted daily by 5:00 PM and will be available from the Secretary of State’s website. Other election information may also be found on the Office’s Election Center web page.
“Due to concerns related to COVID-19, I want to remind every voter that you have a choice on how you vote in the 2020 Elections. Voters can choose to vote in person at a polling place or send an absentee ballot request to their county clerk. Voters should make the choice that works best for them during these unprecedented times,” said Secretary Buchanan. “Just as in all elections in Wyoming, voters will be given options and ways to vote that are safe. My office will continue to respond to this developing situation and act to protect the health and safety of all voters while maintaining the security and integrity of the election.”
The Secretary of State’s Office is reminding registered voters to watch their mail for election information from the Secretary of State’s Office that will arrive this month. This mailer outlines voting options for both the 2020 Primary Election and 2020 General Election as well as contact information for each county clerk. Anyone who has questions about voting in 2020 should visit the Secretary of State’s website or contact their local county clerk’s office for more information.
“Even as concerns over COVID-19 continue, we are encouraging candidates to file and voters to cast their ballot. We are working hard to ensure we have a great election season,” said State Election Director Kai Schon.
