Wyoming Officials Raise Concerns Over Federal Election Observers' Conduct Wyoming’s state canvassing board convened in Cheyenne on Wednesday to formally certify the results of the state’s primary elections. During the meeting, Governor Mark Gordon expressed significant concerns about the conduct of federal election observers who had monitored last week’s primary voting in Laramie County. Gordon described their actions as “aggressive” and “irregular,” prompting similar worries from Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee. The dispute centers on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) deployment of observers and the lack of prior communication with state and local officials. The DOJ’s involvement in Wyoming’s elections began with a monitoring initiative announced on August 18, the day of the primary. A press release from the department stated the initiative aimed to “promote transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors.” However, local officials claimed they were not informed of the federal presence until after the polls closed. Governor Gordon pointed to the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, the Attorney General’s office, and Laramie County Clerk’s Office as being unaware of the observers’ arrival. He emphasized that the federal agents’ behavior appeared to exceed their authority, though he stopped short of accusing them of wrongdoing. Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who has worked closely with the DOJ on voter data collection efforts, disputed Gordon’s claims. Gray cited a statement from U.S. Attorney Darin Smith, who assured that federal monitors were collaborating with local officials to “ensure every lawful vote is protected.#department_of_justice #mark_gordon #debra_lee #wyoming_state_canvassing_board #laramie_county_clerk
