Prohibition on electronic voting equipment-2.
SF0184 would substantially rewrite Wyoming’s Election Code to require paper ballots and hand counting for elections, while repealing most provisions tied to electronic voting systems and electronic pollbooks. The bill defines and reorganizes election terminology to center paper ballots, counting boards, counting centers, recounts, and retabulations, and it sets procedures for ballot design, ballot handling, observer access, and the counting and sealing of ballots. It also provides for testing of hand-count systems before elections, requires notice to party officials, and establishes rules for how ballots are to be marked, spoiled, transported, and canvassed.
The bill also revises election administration procedures across many sections of law to fit a hand-count model. It changes or removes references to voting machines, electronic tabulators, and electronic pollbooks; updates absentee ballot processing; adjusts requirements for election judges, counting boards, poll watchers, and canvassing boards; and modifies post-election audit procedures. In addition, it retains and updates election-related criminal penalties, including offenses involving ballot boxes, keys, and falsifying election documents, and makes conforming amendments throughout the election code. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
If enacted, SF0184 would be a major structural change to Wyoming election law by replacing electronic voting equipment with paper ballots and hand counting as the default election method. It would repeal numerous statutory provisions governing electronic voting systems, electronic pollbooks, and machine-based procedures, while creating new requirements for hand-count voting systems, ballot security, observer participation, and manual tabulation. County clerks, election judges, counting boards, political parties, and canvassing boards would all be affected by new duties and procedures, and the secretary of state would retain rulemaking authority to implement the revised system.
Based on the bill title and text, the measure appears to reflect a strong preference among its sponsors for paper-based, manually counted elections and skepticism toward electronic voting equipment. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of broader legislative support or opposition in the available materials. The bill’s framing suggests an intent to emphasize transparency, auditability, and election integrity through manual processes.
The likely points of contention are the bill’s elimination of electronic voting systems and electronic pollbooks, and the practical burden of requiring hand counts in all or most elections. Supporters would likely argue that paper ballots and manual counting improve transparency, public confidence, and auditability, while opponents would likely raise concerns about cost, staffing, speed of results, recount logistics, and the risk of human error in large-scale hand counts. Additional friction may arise over the bill’s extensive changes to county election administration, including counting boards, observer access, and the transition away from established machine-based procedures.