Voting

Chuck Gray is trying to dismiss a lawsuit brought by U.S. Senate candidate Jimmy Skovgard, who’s challenging Wyoming’s closed primary elections.

Hand counts, photo IDs and less time to cross between parties are all goals brought by the secretary of state.

Lawmakers passed a bill requiring 5% of ballots cast in 2026 to be hand counted. Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee talks about how her office is prepping for the effort.

Wyoming has closed primary elections, meaning voters will only see candidates from their political party on the ballot. Changes to voting laws in 2023 created the May deadline.

Registered voters must choose a party before all candidates have filed for the Aug. 18 primary.

Becky Hadlock still faces charges in two other cases for her conduct before and during the 2024 general election.

Hadlock’s resignation comes after she was charged with two felonies for her conduct related to the 2024 general election.

The two new charges stem from Hadlock’s conduct surrounding the 2024 general election.

Lisa Kinney is an attorney from Laramie who served in the state Senate for 10 years.

Hand counting ballots is less secure, less accurate and more time consuming than counting ballots using voting machines, according to studies and local county clerks. But the governor signed a new law requiring county clerks to audit 5% of ballots by hand after the primary and general elections this year.