AN ACT relating to elections; requiring counties to use pen and paper as the default method to mark ballots for elections in Wyoming; providing an exception; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.
Summary
HB0048 would require Wyoming counties to use paper ballots and pens as the default method for all in-person voting in all elections. County clerks would have to provide voters with a paper ballot and pen to mark the ballot secretly, while electronic ballot-marking devices could still be offered for voters with disabilities. The bill defines “electronic ballot marking device” broadly to include touch-screen systems that produce a marked paper ballot or ballot card.
The measure also makes conforming changes to existing election statutes so that county commissioners’ authority to adopt voting machines or electronic voting systems is expressly subject to the new paper-ballot default. It would affect provisions governing county voting equipment, bond elections, and multi-county school and community college district elections by limiting those provisions to the extent they conflict with the paper-ballot requirement. The bill would take effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
HB0048 would amend Wyoming election law to establish a statewide paper-ballot default for in-person voting, reducing counties’ discretion to use voting machines or electronic ballot-marking systems as the primary method of ballot marking. It preserves accessibility accommodations by allowing electronic ballot-marking devices for voters with disabilities, subject to federal accessibility requirements, including the Help America Vote Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill would also require related statutory language to be read subject to the new paper-ballot rule, affecting county election administration and equipment decisions.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had mixed support and opposition, as reflected in its failure on introduction by a 38-24 vote. The absence of committee transcript discussion limits insight into detailed arguments, but the vote suggests the proposal was controversial rather than broadly accepted. Overall, the measure likely appealed to supporters of paper-based election methods and election security, while drawing resistance from those concerned about administrative flexibility, existing voting technology, or accessibility implementation.
Contention
The main point of contention is the shift from allowing counties to choose voting machines or electronic ballot-marking systems to requiring paper ballots as the default for all in-person voting. Supporters would likely view the bill as strengthening election integrity and auditability, while opponents may argue it unnecessarily restricts local election administration and could complicate use of modern voting equipment. A second likely area of debate is accessibility: the bill preserves electronic ballot-marking devices for voters with disabilities, but the extent to which that exception is sufficient or burdensome may have been a concern for disability advocates and election officials.