Local officials test voting machines as early voting starts Friday

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - The Laramie County Clerk and election officials tested the equipment county residents will be using to vote starting Friday.

“This is the most significant improvement in voting equipment since 2006, and Laramie County, as does the rest of the state of Wyoming, we have now the best in the election world in terms of election equipment,” said Laramie County Clerk, Debra Lee.

The test is to ensure voters choices are accurate, you aren’t voting for more candidates than allowed and there’s also a chance to review your choices before you submit them. Lee said the machines are not connected to the internet and are as secure as possible.

After Thursday’s tests, each machine is zeroed out and locked up until early voting starts Friday. Lee also said the county has a historic amount of requests for absentee ballots.

“Our numbers are unprecedented, we have requests for more than 13,000 absentee ballots, we’ve never seen anything like it,” said Lee.

Lee said absentee ballots will be mailed out on Friday and early voting begins tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. For early voting, you can head to the Laramie County Complex at 309 W. 20th Street.

For more information on voting, you can visit the Laramie County Clerk’s website here.

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