Ask anyone when Election Day is, and most people will tell you: “November.”

That’s technically true. But in Wyoming, the vast majority of elections are essentially over after the Primary Elections in August. 

That’s why Better Wyoming is working to encourage people to vote in the Primary Elections in 2026 by asking them to Commit To Vote and share information with their family and friends.

This isn’t a unique Wyoming situation. According to a recent analysis, only 18 out of 435 seats in the U.S. Congress are competitive in the general election. 

The rest of the contests—in both red and blue states—are decided in the primaries.

BIG RACES, BIG CONSEQUENCES

In Wyoming, elections that are essentially decided in the primaries include:

FEDERAL: U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate

STATE: All “Top 5” seats - Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction

LEGISLATURE: Roughly 80 percent of seats in the Legislature are decided in primary elections

COUNTY: County Commissioner, County Clerk, Sheriff, and others 

These positions have huge impacts on issues like public education, public lands, healthcare, jobs and the economy, housing, and more.

BIG RACES, LOW TURNOUT

Even with all of these races being determined in the primary, voter turnout in Wyoming primaries are very low. 

In 2024, only 27% of eligible Wyomingites voted in the primaries. As a result, the Freedom Caucus was able to seize control of the Wyoming House while receiving just 9% of the vote from eligible voting age adults. 

These races are often decided by extremely small margins. In 2024, one-third of Wyoming House races were decided by fewer than 250 votes, eleven were decided by fewer than 100 votes and one race was decided by just six votes! In an election in Natrona County, just 30 votes determined the voting makeup of the entire senate.