HB0052

Establishes a process for hand-counting recounts in Wyoming elections and creates an election recount account to fund certain recount costs.

• Defines 'recount' in election law to include hand counting or electronic processing of ballots for the purpose of counting votes again based on specified criteria. (W.S. 22-1-102(a)(xlii))
• Authorizes the county clerk to appoint a counting board specifically for completing recounts, consisting of not less than three members. (W.S. 22-8-108(e), Sec. 1)
• Requires mandatory hand-count recounts for federal, statewide, or legislative races where the margin of victory is less than two percent in a county or less than one percent statewide, conducted prior to county canvass. (W.S. 22-16-109(b)(i), W.S. 22-16-109(b)(ii))
• Permits losing candidates to request a recount of any office by filing an affidavit specifying whether the recount should be conducted by hand count or electronic voting equipment. (W.S. 22-16-109(c), W.S. 22-16-110(a))
• Authorizes the secretary of state to require a recount of one federal, statewide, or legislative race no later than the day following an election, specifying which precincts and method. (W.S. 22-16-109(d))
• Establishes mandatory hand-count recounts for ballot propositions within one percent of passage (statewide) or two percent (local), and allows hand-count recounts by request of twenty-five registered electors with deposit. (W.S. 22-16-111(a)(i), W.S. 22-16-111(a)(ii))
• Sets recount deposit requirements: up to one thousand dollars for electronic equipment recounts and up to five thousand dollars for hand-count recounts, with liability limits and cost allocation based on election outcome. (W.S. 22-16-113(a), W.S. 22-16-113(b))
• Creates the election recount account funded with two hundred thousand dollars from the general fund to cover costs of hand recounts conducted by the secretary of state and reasonable expenses for county clerks. (W.S. 22-16-109(g), Sec. 3)
• Requires the secretary of state to promulgate rules establishing standards for counting ballots that are hand-counted during recounts.