State Summary
After the passage of SF 113, Wyoming has two audit requirements in place for 2026 only. This entry provides detail on both, though for the purposes of categorization in the searchable database and the map of audit laws, we have relied on the existing statute prior to the 2026 change.
Wyoming’s Senate File No. 153 (2023) instituted a “post-election ballot audit,” which requires an audit of statewide contests following primary, special, and general elections. Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130(a). The statute also gives clerks discretion to select additional contests for audit. Although the statute mentions a formula developed by the University of Wyoming to determine a “statistically significant sample size of the ballots to be audited,” the percentage of ballots to be audited is capped at 5% of the number of ballots cast. Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130. Wyoming’s Statewide Election Audit Policy for 2022, a 2022 directive that predates the audit statute, provides further information on how the audit is conducted. Notably, the directive clarifies how the audit involves a comparison of individual ballot images against the cast vote record for each ballot rather than a manual review of ballots.
In 2026, Wyoming’s Senate File No. 113 was signed into law, which requires every county clerk to conduct a hand-count audit of ballots cast on Election Day following the 2026 primary and general elections. This is in addition to the existing “post-election ballot audit,” which was codified in 2023. This new audit targets a 5% of total ballots cast on election day in each county. This count will be compared to the results of the initial tabulation.
Prior to 2023, Wyoming’s statute only required that logic and accuracy testing, conducted using test ballots, be repeated after the election. Wyo. Stat. § 22-11-109.
Unless otherwise specified, statutory references are to Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130.
Voting Systems Used
Nearly all counties in Wyoming use hand-marked paper ballots and optical scanners, with ballot marking devices for accessibility. One county uses ballot marking devices for all in-person voters. For the most up to date information please visit Verified Voting’s Verifier.
For an explanation on the types of voting equipment used, click here.
Audit Comprehensiveness
The statute does not specify which ballots are included in the “post-election ballot audit.”
For the 2026 primary and general elections, Senate File No. 113 requires a hand-count audit of ballots cast of 5% of the total ballots cast on election day in each county. Wyo. SF0113 § 2.(a)–(b).
Transparency
Since Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130 does not provide guidance on transparency, we consider the “post-election ballot audit” to have minimal transparency.
For the 2026 hand-count audit, Senate File No. 113 mentions that the audit will be reported by the secretary of state to the Joint Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, but is otherwise silent on transparency.
Audit Counting Method
Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130 does not specify how the audit is conducted. Wyoming’s Statewide Election Audit Policy for 2022 provides insight into the audit process in place as of 2022 and in force until superseded. It requires that “the county shall use the [election management system] to compare the ballot with the corresponding Cast Vote Record (CVR).” In effect, county officials are directed to compare ballot images against the CVR for each ballot.
For the 2026 primary and general elections, Senate File No. 113 requires a hand-count audit of ballots cast by tabulating machines on election day. The results are compared to the tabulation count. Wyo. SF No. 113 § 2(c).
Type Of Audit Units
Based on the description of the “post-election ballot audit” procedures in Wyoming’s Statewide Election Audit Policy for 2022, the ballot is treated as the audit unit, with ballot images compared to CVRs.
For the hand-count audit of the 2026 primary and general elections, the county canvassing board selects the tabulating machines that represent roughly 5% of ballots cast in the county, and the county clerk audits the ballots selected by those machines. Wyo. SF0113 § 2(b).
Contests & Issues Audited
Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130 provides for the auditing of all statewide contests in the “post-election ballot audit,” with additional contests to be audited at the discretion of the county clerk.
For the hand-count audit of the 2026 primary and general elections, each county clerk is required to audit one federal and one statewide race selected by the secretary of state. Different federal and statewide races may be chosen for each county. Additionally, all legislative races on the ballot must be audited. The county canvassing board may also order audits of additional races. Wyo. SF No. 113 § 2.(a), (c)(ii).
Addressing Discrepancies
The statute does not provide for the expansion of the audit if discrepancies are detected.
For the hand-count audit of the 2026 primary and general elections, any inconsistencies must be reported to the secretary of state. Wyo. SF No. 113 § 2.(a), (d).
For recount laws, please visit our Recount Law Database.
Timeline
County clerks must complete the audit by the first Thursday following the election and provide the audit results to the secretary of state one day prior to the meeting of the state canvassing board. Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130.
For the hand-count audit of the 2026 primary and general elections, county clerks are to be notified of the selected races no later than the close of business on the Wednesday following the election. The audit must be conducted no later than nine days after the county canvass. Any inconsistencies and errors, along with the report of the audit, are due to the Joint Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee by May 1, 2027. Wyo. SF No. 113 § 2.(a), (b), (d), (e).
Binding On Official Outcomes
There is no statutory guidance on whether either the 2026 hand-count audit or the post-election ballot audit are binding.
Oversight & Conduct
County clerks conduct the audit, while the secretary of state develops policies for the audit and oversees the selection of ballots to be audited. See Wyoming’s Statewide Election Audit Policy for 2022.
For the 2026 hand-count audit, the county clerk is responsible for conducting the audit and appointing the audit boards. The secretary of state chooses one statewide and one federal race for each county to audit. The county canvassing board selects the tabulators to be audited and may also designate additional races to audit.
Ballot Protection
Paper ballots are sealed by election judges in an envelope after being counted and tallied. A copy of each voting machine record is sealed in a separate envelope. These envelopes are then sealed in a container labeled with the district and precinct number. Wyo. Stat. § 22-14-110.
Election records and returns must be sealed in a locked container with a numbered seal, and the number or unique identifier on the numbered seal must be documented by an election judge before the container leaves the polling place and also documented by the county clerk upon arrival at the clerk’s office. Wyo. Stat. § 22-14-111.
Additional Targeted Samples
There is no provision for targeted samples in Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130 or Senate File No. 113.
Resources
Wyo. Stat. § 22-6-130: Audit statute
Wyo. Stat. § 22-14-110; Wyo. Stat. § 22-14-111: Ballot protection
Wyo. SF No. 113: 2026 hand-count audit
Last updated: November 10, 2026