This bill amends Wyoming's election laws to require a hand count audit of ballots following each primary and general election. Specifically, it adds a new subsection (c) to W.S. 22-6-130, mandating that each county clerk conduct an audit of ballots in one randomly selected precinct, as determined by the secretary of state. The county clerk is required to perform a hand count of all ballots cast in that precinct and compare the results to those generated by the electronic voting system. The audit must be completed within one week of the election, and the results must be reported to the secretary of state, who will also establish rules for implementing this audit process.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the secretary of state must adopt rules regarding the hand count audit by September 1, 2026. The act is designed to enhance the integrity of the election process by ensuring that there is a reliable method of verifying the accuracy of election results through manual audits. The bill takes effect immediately upon fulfilling the necessary legislative procedures.

Statutes affected:
26LSO-0043 v0.2: 22-6-130