Committee backs bill to make pen-and-paper ballots the default; Laramie County officials warn of costs and logistical impact

The House Appropriations Committee voted 6–1 to advance House Bill 245, a measure to make pen-and-paper ballots the default method for marking ballots in Wyoming elections while preserving accessible marking devices for voters who need them.

The bill was presented by Representative Knapp and supported in testimony by the Secretary of State, who argued the default return to hand-marked ballots would increase public confidence. "Relying on the barcodes decreases trust in our elections, because electors cannot verify that the barcodes on their ballot correspond with the candidates they voted for," the Secretary of State said, explaining that in Laramie County the commonly used express-vote system prints a receipt that is cast by its barcode rather than by reading the printed candidate names.

Laramie County Clerk Deborah Lee and other county clerks told the committee they rely on touchscreen "express vote" machines to provide accessible voting for many voters, to run efficient vote centers, and to reduce human error such as overvotes. Clerk Lee said touchscreen systems have reduced overvotes in her county and produce a printed ballot that is linked to the voter's ballot style at check-in. "Touch screens produce an error free ballot. They do not allow a voter to overvote... Laramie County for its size, because of the method we use, has significantly fewer over votes," she said.

Clerks and representatives of the County Clerk's Association warned the committee that changing the default would impose financial and operational burdens on counties—particularly Laramie County, which uses vote centers and touchscreen equipment countywide. Clerk Lee estimated the change would require additional ballot printers, tabulators, staff and possibly more warehouse space; the Secretary of State told the committee the state's election readiness account has previously borne such costs and that the account has sufficient balance to assist counties.

Committee members debated amendments aimed at broadening or clarifying the disability language that allows use of express-vote devices. Representative Sherwood moved an amendment replacing the phrase "persons with disabilities" with "electors who choose to use them" and removing a statutory definition; the motion was seconded but failed on a recorded vote. The committee then voted to advance the bill as drafted.

The committee record shows members asked numerous operational and accessibility questions; county clerks and voting-rights advocates emphasized both voters' right to an accessible method and the need to avoid singling out voters who use assistive devices. Marguerite Herman of the League of Women Voters endorsed preserving access and local clerks' judgment about the method that best serves their voters.

Action and next step: House Bill 245 passed the committee and will be sent to the full House for further consideration.