CHEYENNE — The visual signs painted a picture that Wyoming was well on its way to shattering early voting records after a dismal primary election turnout.
Long lines of people waiting to vote stretched outside courthouses around the state throughout October, giving county clerks, public officials and voting rights advocates optimism that 2024 could be record-breaking for general election turnout.
Those long lines have partially been because the early voting window this year was only 28 days, 17 days shorter than the 45 days allowed for previous elections.
Although it still could be a record year for overall voting turnout after Election Day is over Tuesday, it appears Wyoming has likely fallen just shy of breaking the early voting record set during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which was 131,516 votes, according to U.S. Elections Project. That was the last year with a presidential election.
Closing in on the end of the day Monday, the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office reported that 112,824 people had voted statewide — 44% of the total registered voters in Wyoming.
While not a record overall, this year’s early voting turnout smashes previous years in votes cast per day at an average of 4,029. The 2020 early voting per-day average was 2,922 votes.
“Turnout continues to outpace the 2022 general election across the Cowboy State as eligible Wyoming voters exercise their right to vote,” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said in a Monday press release. “Voting is a crucial part of our republic, and I'm proud of our efforts to ensure we are ready for election day. I am excited for Tuesday’s general election.”
Early Voting Trend
This is still a high turnout when compared to the long-term data on early voting in Wyoming, which shows it has gained popularity. It also shows that the general election turnout will shatter the August primary turnout of 122,718 ballots cast.
In 2016, 79,667 people early voted in Wyoming, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In 2012, 43,173 people voted early in Wyoming, according to the U.S. Elections Project.
Another factor to consider is that the 2020 early voting turnout was mostly as high as it was because of the significant number of people who voted by absentee ballot that year because of COVID-19 concerns.
The line for early voting stretches around the block at the Laramie County Clerk's Office in Cheyenne on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, the day before the general election. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
The line for early voting stretches around the block at the Laramie County Clerk's Office in Cheyenne on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, the day before the general election. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
The line for early voting stretches around the block at the Laramie County Clerk's Office in Cheyenne on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, the day before the general election. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily)
View From The Line
On Monday, there was a line of people waiting to vote extending out of the Laramie County Courthouse in Cheyenne and more than halfway around the block. Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said there was a similar line late Friday afternoon as well.
“As long as they’re in line by 5 p.m. we let them vote,” she said.
Late Monday, Brandie Gay and Stephanie Sturtevant found themselves near the end of the line. Although neither were excited about what they expected to be a 90-minute wait, Monday was the last bit of free time they had to vote.
Morgan Syvanen and her daughter Joy Weaver were in a similar situation, driving from their home in Carpenter to vote.
“I’m helping her because voting with three kids can sometimes be difficult,” Syvanen said.
The only time Syvanen could remember waiting longer in line to vote was when she was younger in Iowa, an experience she described as “so cold.”
Taylor Keast was in a similar situation. A stay-at-home mom, Monday was one of the first times she could get away to vote in her first Wyoming election.
“It’s mostly because I have a strong opinion this year,” she said.
Toward the front of the line, Ralph Atchley said he had been waiting for about two hours. A few feet ahead was Liliana Valdez, who gave a slightly shorter time estimate. Neither regretted waiting as long as they did.
“It’s my civic duty,” Valdez said. “I don’t have the right to complain if I don’t vote.”
Valdez said her only wish was that she had brought some coffee with her for standing in the chilly weather.
But Why The Long Lines?
There was a significant change this election season that helped give an appearance that early voting numbers have skyrocketed. This was the shortening of the early voting period, which was downsized from 45 to 28 days starting this election season.
As a result, more people voted early on a per-day ratio than in elections past, thus condensing the turnout into 17 fewer days and creating longer lines outside courthouses.
In Laramie County, Lee reported that 22,878 people had voted early as of 4 p.m. Monday, with about 500 people waiting in line to vote outside the courthouse after that number was reported to Cowboy State Daily.
In 2020, 27,145 people voted early in the general election in Laramie County, but only 14,191 voted early in person. This year, 17,143 people had already voted early in person as of 4 p.m. Monday, with significantly fewer absentee ballots cast than 2020.
Early voting numbers have been large nationwide as nearly half of the 2020 voting electorate have already cast a vote, Axios reports.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. around Wyoming on Tuesday.
Due to the large early voting turnout, Lee hypothesized that there could be shorter lines Tuesday than what was seen Monday.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
