Wyoming Secretary of State Warns Cheyenne Over Data Center Referendum

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray warned the Cheyenne City Council against obstructing a citizen-led referendum regarding the annexation of 3,460 acres for a Microsoft data center expansion project. The conflict began after the City Council approved the annexation, prompting local residents to circulate a petition to put the decision to a public vote.

In response to the petition, the council requested a judicial ruling to determine its validity. Secretary Gray sent a letter to Mayor Patrick Collins stating that city residents possess a statutory right to subject ordinances to a referendum provided signature requirements are met. Gray urged the council not to use legal procedures to bog down the constitutional rights of Cheyenne residents or undermine the statutory process laid out in the state election code.