WY HB0052

Mandates hand counting for recounts of federal, statewide, and legislative races where the vote margin is less than 2% at the county level or less than 1% statewide/district-wide

Allows candidates requesting a recount to choose between electronic voting equipment (deposit up to $1,000) or hand count using tally sheets (deposit up to $5,000)

Requires each county clerk to conduct hand count audits of 5% of ballots from the 2026 primary and general elections, covering one federal race, one statewide race, and all legislative races selected by the secretary of state

Creates an election recount account and appropriates $200,000 for recount costs plus $300,000 for training county clerks, staff, and election volunteers through June 30, 2028

Moves the primary election date from the first Tuesday after the third Monday in August to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August, and extends canvassing deadlines by one week