This bill establishes paper ballots as the default voting method for all in-person elections in Wyoming, with exceptions for electronic ballot marking devices for accessibility purposes. It outlines a process for the automatic tabulation of paper ballots and details procedures for hand counting during recounts. The legislation also revises the timing for absentee polling places and adjusts the dates for primary elections and canvassing to align with the new hand counting requirements. Additionally, it creates an election recount account to fund the costs associated with administering hand recounts and introduces a definition of "recount" that includes both hand counting and electronic processing of ballots.

Key amendments include stipulations regarding the deposit required for recount requests, with a maximum of one thousand dollars for electronic recounts and five thousand dollars for hand counts. The bill mandates that if a recount reveals sufficient error to change the election result, the county will cover the recount expenses and refund the deposit. It also modifies the timing of the state canvassing board's meeting and allows county clerks to use electronic voting systems for bond elections, with the political subdivision responsible for the costs. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and appropriates two hundred thousand dollars from the general fund to the election recount account.

Statutes affected:
26LSO-0049 v0.3: 22-1-102, 22-2-104, 22-8-102, 22-8-108, 22-9-125, 22-10-102, 22-11-102, 22-14-114, 22-16-103, 22-16-109, 22-16-110, 22-16-111, 22-16-113, 22-16-118, 22-21-109, 22-22-203