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HB0085 • 2026

Post-election audit procedures.

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring minutes to be taken for the post-election ballot audit; requiring observation of the post-election ballot audit procedures and results; specifying requirements for observation by representatives of political parties and independent candidates; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Mgt Audit
Last action
2026-02-26
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it does not have an effective date or further details on implementation.

Post-election Ballot Audit Procedures

The bill requires county clerks to take minutes during post-election ballot audits and allows representatives from political parties and independent candidates to observe the audit process.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires county clerks to conduct a post-election ballot audit using a statistically significant sample size and to take minutes of the audit.
  • Recommends that county clerks notify party chairs and independent candidates about the time and place of the audit.
  • Allows at least two electors from different political parties to observe the audit process.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County clerks who conduct post-election ballot audits
  • Representatives from political parties and independent candidates who observe the audits

Terms To Know

Statistically significant sample size
A portion of a larger group that is large enough to accurately represent the whole group.
Election officials
People who are responsible for overseeing and conducting elections, including ballot audits.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in its current session.
  • Details about how the audit results will be used or shared with the public are not specified.
  • It is unclear what happens if observers do not follow the required procedures during the audit.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-26 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Failed 9-21-1-0-0

  2. 2026-02-25 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  3. 2026-02-24 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  4. 2026-02-20 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  5. 2026-02-20 Senate

    S07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0

  6. 2026-02-16 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations

  7. 2026-02-16 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  8. 2026-02-13 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 60-1-1-0-0

  9. 2026-02-12 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2026-02-11 House

    H COW:Passed

  11. 2026-02-10 House

    H Placed on General File

  12. 2026-02-10 House

    H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  13. 2026-02-09 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture 62-0-0-0-0

  14. 2026-02-05 House

    H Received for Introduction

  15. 2026-02-02 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
26LSO-0250
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0250
ENGROSSED
3.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0085

Post-election audit procedures.

Sponsored by: Management Audit Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring minutes to be taken for the post-election ballot audit; requiring observation of the post-election ballot audit procedures and results; specifying requirements for observation by representatives of political parties and independent candidates; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

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

22
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6
‑
130.

Post
‑
election ballot audit.

(b)

Each county clerk shall conduct an audit of the election using the statistically significant ballot sample size and the corresponding ballots for the contests selected for audit determined under subsection (a) of this section
and shall cause minutes of the audit to be taken
. Each county clerk shall provide the audit results
and the minutes
to the secretary of state not later than one (1) day before the meeting of the state canvassing board as provided in W.S. 22
‑
16
‑
118.

(c)

The county clerk shall notify the county chairman of each political party having a candidate on the ballot and all independent candidates of the time and place of the audit required under this section. Not less than two (2) electors in the county, who shall be representatives of different political parties, shall be present during the audit to observe the audit procedures and the results of the audit. Additional political party representatives and representatives of independent candidates may be present while the audit is conducted. Each person present to observe the audit under this subsection shall take the oath for election officials as provided in W.S. 22
‑
8
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115. If an insufficient number of representatives are available as required under this subsection, the county clerk may appoint one (1) or more representatives of different political parties as necessary to meet the audit observation requirements of this subsection. Representatives observing the audit under this section shall be given the opportunity to register any observed errors or other objections to the audit with the county clerk and the county clerk shall provide those registered statements, and any response to the statements, to the secretary of state at the time the audit results are submitted under subsection (b) of this section.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

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HB0085