Wyoming

Wyoming has only one congressional district.

Wyoming’s state legislative lines are drawn by the state legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto.

The legislature’s constitutional deadline for drawing state legislative lines is the end of the first budget session after the Census; the next regular budget session is currently scheduled to begin Jan. 11, 2022. [Wyo. Const. art. III, §§ 6, 7, 48] Candidates must file for state legislative primary elections by May 27, 2022.  [Wyo. Stat. §§ 22-2-104(b), 22-5-209]

Wyoming ties the drawing of state legislative lines to the Census, and might therefore be construed to prohibit redrawing lines mid-decade.  If Wyoming gets a second congressional district, those districts may be redrawn at any time. [Wyo. Const. art. III, §§ 48, 49]

The legislature has not announced any specific plans for public input this cycle just yet.

Like all states, Wyoming must comply with constitutional equal population requirements and abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race.

The Wyoming state courts have interpreted the state constitution to impose no requirement to minimize county splits.  [Hunzie v. Maxfield, No. 179-562 (Wyo. Dist. Ct., Laramie Cnty. Nov. 30, 2015)]

In 2011, the joint legislative committee responsible for redistricting adopted principles for state legislative districts; these guidelines were subject to change at any time. The legislature may or may not issue similar guidelines in this cycle.

Coming soon.

Wyoming’s legislature passed a state legislative plan (HB 32) on Mar. 1, 2012, which was signed by the Governor on Mar. 6, 2012.

The plan was challenged in state court, and upheld.  [Hunzie v. Maxfield, No. 179-562 (Wyo. Dist. Ct., Laramie Cnty. Nov. 30, 2015)]

Wyoming’s legislature passed a state legislative plan (HB 75) on Mar. 1, 2002, which became law without the Governor’s signature.

It appears that this plan was not challenged in court.