Committee approves ban on unattended ballot drop boxes after debate over security and rural access

The Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee approved House Bill 131, a prohibition on unattended ballot drop boxes, after hearing testimony about chain-of-custody risks and rural voter access.

The bill, approved by an 8-1 roll call, would require that a completed absentee ballot be mailed via the United States Postal Service or hand-delivered to a clerk (or another clerk within the county, per an amendment adopted in committee). Committee members moved the bill to the floor for further consideration.

The bill’s sponsor and committee chair, Chairman Knapp, opened the discussion by framing the measure as part of a three-part approach to election integrity: preserving the ability to vote, maintaining chain of custody, and ensuring post-election auditability. Knapp said the bill is “short” and is intended to make clear that returning a ballot must be either mailed or hand-delivered to election officials.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray testified in support of the bill, saying he believes existing statutes (including Wyoming Statutes 22-9-113 and 22-2-103) do not authorize unattended drop boxes and asserting that his office rescinded a prior directive that had allowed them during the COVID-19 response. Gray cited examples from other states — including tampering incidents and arson attacks reported elsewhere — as reasons he considers unattended drop boxes an unacceptable security risk. He told the committee his office rescinded prior guidance and would not issue new guidance authorizing drop boxes because, he said, doing so would violate his oath if the practice is not authorized by statute.

County clerks from across Wyoming testified in opposition to an outright ban, or sought clarifications, describing the…