Wyoming election laws require the Secretary of State to certify names for the general election ballot no later than 60 days before the November election. However, in both 2004 and 2008, the Republican National Convention was so late, the Republican certification naming the presidential and vice-presidential nominees arrived so late that the Secretary of State was unable to strictly comply with the state deadline. Now, the Secretary of State has asked the legislature to provide that if any qualified party in the future is late with its certification, the ballot will only say (for example), “Republican Party candidate” instead of “John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

This provision is included in HB 76, which is an omnibus bill of election law changes. The sponsors are Senator Cale Case (R-Lander) and Representative Pete Illoway (R-Cheyenne).

Of course, in 2012, the Republicans will be certain to have an earlier national convention anyway. Strong tradition provides that the major party that holds the White House holds its convention later than the other major party, so it is the Democratic Party that will need to heed this bill in 2012, if the bill passes.