WHEREAS, Wyoming is known as the “Equality State” and our state motto clearly displayed on The great Seal of the State of Wyoming as well as our State Flag simply and proudly says “Equal Rights”; and
WHEREAS, Political Parties are private entities and not branches or departments of government; and
WHEREAS, Article I Section 2 of Wyoming’s Constitution states: “Equality of all. In their inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, all members of the human race are equal.; and
WHEREAS, Article I Section 3 of Wyoming’s Constitution states: “Equal political rights. Since equality in the enjoyment of natural and civil rights is only made sure through political equality, the laws of this state affecting the political rights and privileges of its citizens shall be without distinction of race, color, sex, or any circumstance or condition whatsoever other than individual incompetency, or unworthiness duly ascertained by a court of competent jurisdiction.”; and
WHEREAS, Wyoming Statute, Title 22, Chapter 4, Article 1 (MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES) consists of 20 separate articles which contain nearly 40 individual provisions that grant powers, duties, authorities, and responsibilities as well as imposes a series of limitations on Major Political Parties only; and
WHEREAS, Wyoming Statute, Title 22, Chapter 4, Article 3 (MINOR POLITICAL PARTIES) consists of 7 separate articles which contain only 13 individual provisions that grant differing powers, duties, authorities, and responsibilities as well as imposes a series of different limitations on Minor Political Parties only; and
WHEREAS, the differing definition, recognition, powers, duties, authorities, responsibilities, and limitations placed on any given political party (major or minor) presents a clear and present violation of Wyoming’s Constitutional protections ensuring “Equality of all” and “Equal Political Rights” found in Article 1 Section 2 and 3, as well as presenting a glaring conflict with Wyoming’s posture and standing as the “Equality State” that practices and defends “Equal
Rights”; and
WHEREAS, the election runoff bill was a good first step in addressing a current election issue (that is legitimately an internal party issue) was recently presented to, and subsequently killed by, the “Republican” majority of the Joint Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Committee who could not see fit to give honest consideration to the well-known and publicly stated #1 legislative priority of the Wyoming Republican Party on December 2nd making this repeal proposal the more complete, logical, and necessary action; and
WHEREAS, many current election issues of concern to include the primary runoffs, crossover voting, cost of primary elections, workload placed on county clerks, expansion and opportunity of multiple political parties in Wyoming to thrive on their own unencumbered efforts and merits, are directly addressed by removing the aforementioned conflicting, discriminatory, and unconstitutional language from Title 22, Chapter 4, Article 1.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Wyoming Republican Party adopts the attached revision of Title 22 as the new #1 legislative priority of the Wyoming Republican party, and calls on every publicly elected legislator in the state to sponsor, support, and vote for its passage, as this is an issue of equality, civil liberty, and political rights, and not simply a partisan issue that benefits only one or two political parties while discriminating against the other political parties
as state statute currently does.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Wyoming Republican Party hereby calls on Governor Mark Gordon to actively, enthusiastically, and whole heartedly support this legislative effort as well as immediately sign it into law upon its successful passage by the Wyoming State Legislature.
Passed:
Wyoming Republican Party, 22 Jan 22 SCC