Bill > HB0232

This bill modifies Wyoming's election laws to create a more comprehensive hand-counting process for election recounts. The legislation establishes new procedures for when and how recounts can be conducted, allowing for both hand counts and electronic voting equipment recounts depending on the specific circumstances. For federal, statewide, or legislative races where the margin of victory is less than 2% statewide or 1% in a county, a mandatory hand recount will be required. Candidates can request recounts by filing an affidavit specifying whether they want a hand count or machine recount, and they must pay a deposit that varies based on the recount method (up to $1,000 for machine recounts and up to $5,000 for hand counts). The bill also creates an election recount account with an initial appropriation of $200,000 to help cover the costs of hand recounts, and adjusts various election-related dates to accommodate the potential time needed for hand counting. Additionally, the legislation provides flexibility for county clerks and the secretary of state to initiate recounts and establishes rules for how discrepancies between preliminary and recount results will be handled. The changes aim to provide more transparency and accuracy in the vote-counting process while establishing clear guidelines for when and how recounts can be conducted.

Budget and Finance

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0232