Wyoming
Massive Early Voting Turnout Surge Shatters Records Across Wyoming
More than three weeks still remain before the Nov. 5 general election, but records are already being shattered for early voting turnout around Wyoming.
Laramie County announced that turnout on Day On of early voting in Laramie County on Tuesday set a record, as 754 ballots were cast. According to Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee, the previous first-day record, set in 2020, was 313.
By Friday afternoon, the early voting line at the Laramie County Clerk’s Office was out the door. Lee told Cowboy State Daily that 2,672 ballots had been cast for the first week so far, also a record.
“This is good. There’s a lot of interest in this election for sure,” she said.
None of these totals include absentee ballots and only represent in-person early voting.
In Laramie County, 438 absentee ballots and 48 ballots sent to residents stationed overseas were returned as of Friday afternoon, slightly higher numbers from what was seen in 2020. That’s significant, considering a whopping 13,025 absentee ballots were sent out for the 2020 election, mostly as result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Platte County Clerk Malcolm Ervin said similar records were likely broken in his county for the first week of early voting.
As of Friday, Platte had 552 early ballots recorded. This compares to the roughly 2,000 ballots that were cast in his county through the entire 45-day early voting period in 2020.
Ervin said his staff anticipated a heavy early voting turnout this year because of changes in law that just went into effect, reducing the early voting period from 45 to 28 days for most voters.
Fremont County Clerk Julie Freese said she wasn’t sure if any records had been broken in her county, but early voting participation has been “steady” in her central Wyoming county, with 301 casting an early ballot so far.
Republicans and former President Donald Trump have made a concerted effort to promote early voting in this year’s election, even though Trump himself has also criticized it. Democrats have historically had success in encouraging early voting, which has helped them bank votes ahead of Election Day.
Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman put out a video on social media reminding the voters that the polls are open and that “we need to take our country back.”
‘Get ’R Done’
State Rep. Clarence Styvar, R-Cheyenne, was one of the early voters Friday afternoon waiting to cast an early vote. When asked why he chose to vote early rather than vote on Election Day, Styvar responded to, “get ’r done.”
The overwhelming sentiment among people Cowboy State Daily spoke with was similar to Styvar, expressing a desire to get voting out of the way and done when they had free time to do it.
Michelle Blake said avoiding long lines on Election Day was a factor in her consideration to vote early.
“I don’t want to have to wait in the line too long,” she said.
One of these people was Cody Fife, who was voting in his first Wyoming election after moving to the Cowboy State from Alaska.
Fife said he hadn’t even planned to vote when he left the house that day, but realized the convenience of casting his vote early when stopping by the courthouse to register his vehicle in Wyoming.
When asked if he was knowledgeable about the candidates running, Fife responded that he’s “just as much as anyone else.”
Presidential elections tend to draw much larger turnout than non-presidential elections. The high-stakes race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will likely be no different, with people from both parties seeing the result in fatalistic terms for the country.
Larger Trends
When it comes to absentee voting, which involves the county mailing a ballot out to voters who make a request for one and then those voters returning the ballot in-person or by mail, Murray said she doesn’t trust the process.
“I’d rather do in-person voting because of how the election went four years ago,” she said.
Andrea Aguiar feels differently, confidently voting by absentee ballot in the past. On Friday, she was casting her vote in person with her daughter in tow.
“Just to beat the crowd and make sure it’s done with,” Aguiar explained of why she came early. “Also, in case I get sick on Election Day.”
Aguiar and others expressed surprise by how many people were voting early.
All three clerks believe there has been slowly growing popularity for early voting over the last few election cycles. Although there was a major spike in 2020, Ervin pointed out that his county’s early voting numbers are on pace to beat what it saw in 2016.
“Some people are realizing that if life happens, something might happen on Election Day that makes them not able to vote,” Freese said. “Others don’t want to have to wait in the lines.”
Lee also believes the public has become more confident in early and absentee voting than in the past.
“Trust has increased,” she said. “As people become more familiar with it they realize it is a convenience for them. They’re assured their vote is cast and counted. It makes them confident.”
Freese doesn’t think confidence in these mechanisms of voting has increased and pointed out that there is still a solid cohort of voters who adamantly only vote on Election Day.
“We like giving a lot of options to make sure people feel confident in their vote,” she said.
Although none of these three county clerks promote voting early instead of voting on Election Day, Ervin and Lee admitted that the more people that do, the easier it makes work for their election staff on Nov. 5.
“It takes the burden off the vote centers,” Lee said.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
CASPER, Wyo. — There was magic, or something like it, in the air on Saturday as the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds presented the 2026 Casper Holistic Expo, Casper’s longest running holistic expo and a hallmark of the beginning of spring in Natrona County.
Countless vendors from Casper and beyond gathered with their goodies to present them to eager customers searching for something a little different.
The holistic expo featured crystal and metaphysical shops, tattoo and body piercing studios, henna and glitter tattoo studios, holistic shops, tarot readings, fortune tellers, magic and so much more. There was truly something for everyone, and Christina Kuhn, the lead organizer, said that nobody who came to the expo would leave disappointed.
“This actually started over 20 years ago,” Kuhn said. “I’ve been doing it for years. My mom did it for seven years before me. And Judy Ick, who actually does our photography, she did it before that. So it’s been a very long, very longstanding and growing event.”
Kuhn said that the Holistic Expo has grown exponentially over the years.
“When Judy passed it down to mom, there were 38 booths,” she said. “After mom passed it down to me, there were 78. Now I think we’re up to, like, 98.”
The booths are as eclectic as the people who run them. There’s magic, mysticism and moonlight; storytellers and palm readers; conversationalists and creators. There are CBD products, organic teas, energy testing, and even fudge.
“Some of this is kind of a special niche,” Kuhn shared, “but some of it is not. We’ve got a chiropractor. We’ve got people that are working with healing modalities. Some of it’s spiritual stuff. We’ve got crafts, too.”
There’s a wide variety of vendors and customers as the Holistic Expo, and Kuhn said she wouldn’t want it any other way. The most important thing they do, Kuhn said, is donate to local nonprofits.
“People can either pay the $5 door fee — anybody that’s 13 or over — or they can donate five nonperishable goods,” Kuhn said. “We started donating that to poverty resistance, and then we did City Park Church. This year we’re donating to the Wyoming Food for Thought Project.”
Kuhn said this was just a simple way to give back to the community, a community she and her business have been a part of for years. Kuhn owns a store in downtown Casper called A Place for Passion, and the Holistic Expo also allows her to bring some merch from her store and put in on display with a variety of other items. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend, she said, and she’s proud to be a part of it.
“Good lord, I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said. “I helped my mom with it for ages and she wanted somebody that would carry on and keep expanding and doing well with it. Before I was helping run the show and managing it, I was a booth. I started sharing a booth with my mom because I only had a few things and I wasn’t sure how well they’d sell. But then it just expanded and took off, and now here I am.”
Kuhn said it means a lot that she’s able to continue the Holistic Expo for her mother.
“It’s nice to keep expanding something, especially something that contributes so much to the community,” she said. “There are so many people that come out and enjoy everything that they get here. And it’s a big opportunity for them to connect with others, to connect with people that have stuff they want to offer them.”
That, Kuhn said, is her favorite part of the Holistic Expo — meeting people.
“It’s just nice connecting with people and helping them out in any way that you can,” she said. “Everybody’s got their own knowledge, gifts, products that they’re putting out — services, whatever it is. So being able to share that with others is awesome. You’ve got to come check it out. It’s an awesome experience. There’s a little something for everyone.”
The Casper Holistic Expo is happening Saturday until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Industrial Building at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds.
Photos from the Holistic Expo can be seen below:
Related
A 6-inch megalodon shark tooth was found by a Wyoming teen during a dive trip off Manasota Key, Florida earlier this week.
Sixteen-year-old Aiden Andrews and his father Brian were on a guided dive with Fossil Junkies, a local fossil-hunting tour company.
Captain John Kreatsoulas told FOX 13 Tampa Bay reporter Kimberly Kuizon that while finding small megalodon teeth isn’t uncommon, finding one that size is quite rare.
Video captured the moments when Aiden and his father celebrated underwater after making the remarkable discovery.
Popularized by Hollywood monster movies, the Carcharocles megalodon was the largest shark to have ever lived, according to the Smithsonian Institution.
Scientists believe the largest megalodon reached up to 60 feet in length and weighed up to 50 tons.
And as Andrews can attest — they possessed teeth the size of a human hand.
According to the Smithsonian, megalodon lived between 23 and 3.6 million years ago across all of Earth’s oceans.
Wyoming
Outdoor Fun Awaits At Local Parks With Izaak Walton League’s Hiking Series From April To September
Hiking can be an activity that you enjoy doing on your own, but sometimes you need a little extra inspiration, and a group hike is exactly what you need. If you’re looking for a group to explore the outdoors with, the Charles E. Piersall chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America hiking group may be what you’re looking for.
The mission of the IWLA:
To engage the community in the conservation, restoration, and promotion of environmental protection, we focus on the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. This commitment is essential for a sustainable future, and activities like hiking help foster a connection with nature
The group is open to all ages, and even your pup can join in on the fun if they’re on a leash. There is a series of hikes planned beginning on April 1. Nope, this isn’t a prank; it is a real chance to meet other outdoor lovers and take in some of the area’s best hiking trails. The hikes are scheduled on the odd Wednesdays from April to September, weather permitting.
Join us to connect with others who appreciate the beauty of outdoor hiking and environmental advocacy hiking. Remember to bring drinking water, snacks, good walking shoes or boots, and a jacket. A walking stick or hiking poles can also be helpful.
Here are the hikes they have planned for this summer.
April 2026
- Wednesday, April 1, 6 pm, Morad Park to Paradise Valley:
- Wednesday, April 15, 6 pm, Edness K. Wilkins State Park:
- Wednesday, April 29, 6 pm, Tate Pumphouse, Golf Course loop:
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
- Wednesday, July 1, 6 pm, Muddy Mountain, North Face:
- Wednesday, July 15, 6 pm, Muddy Mountain, Beaver Ponds:
- Wednesday, July 29, 6 pm, Casper Mountain, Biathlon:
August 2026
September 2026
16 Types Of Hikes Explained
7 Trails To Hike In Central Wyoming
There’s no doubt about it, the entire state of Wyoming is covered in amazing hiking trails. If you’re visiting central Wyoming here are 7 trails that you should check out. I’ve organized them from easier to harder, ending with Laramie Peak.
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