HB0051 • 2026

Random hand count audits of election results.

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a hand count audit of ballots as specified; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Elections

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Corporations
Last action: 2026-02-09
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Random Hand Count Audits of Election Results

This act requires election officials to randomly select one precinct in each county after primary and general elections for a hand count audit, comparing it with the electronic voting system results.

What This Bill Does

Requires county clerks to conduct a hand count audit of ballots from one randomly selected precinct after every primary and general election.
Specifies that the secretary of state must choose which precinct in each county will be audited.
Recommends comparing the hand-counted results with those produced by electronic voting systems.
Requires reporting the audit's findings to the secretary of state within a week of the election.

Who It Names or Affects

County clerks who must perform audits in selected precincts.
The Secretary of State, responsible for selecting precincts and creating rules for audits.

Terms To Know

Hand count audit: A process where election officials manually recount ballots to verify the accuracy of electronic voting results.
Precinct: An area within a county that is used for conducting elections, including voter registration and polling places.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in its session.
Details of the audit process are to be determined by rules established by the Secretary of State after July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-02-09 House
H Failed Introduction 39-23-0-0-0
2026-01-22 House
H Received for Introduction
2026-01-20 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0043
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0043
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0051

Random hand count audits of election results.

Sponsored by: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a hand count audit of ballots as specified; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 22
‑
6
‑
130 by creating a new subsection (c) is amended to read:

22
‑
6
‑
130.

Post
‑
election ballot audit.

(c)

In addition to the audit under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, following each primary and general election, each county clerk shall conduct an audit of the ballots in one (1) precinct as provided in this subsection. The secretary of state shall randomly select one (1) precinct in each county to be audited as provided in this subsection. The county clerk shall conduct a hand count audit of all ballots cast in the precinct selected by the secretary of state and shall compare the hand count result to the result tabulated by the electronic voting system. The audit under this subsection shall be completed not later than one (1) week after the date of the election. The results of the audit and the comparison shall immediately be reported to the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection, including rules establishing the scope of the audit and the procedures for conducting the audit under this subsection.

Section 2
.

The secretary of state shall adopt rules regarding the hand count audit required under W.S. 22
‑
6
‑
130(c), as created by section 1 of this act, not later than July 1, 2026.

Section 3
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0051