Voting security and the Wyoming primaries

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - As the voting season heats up, many may ask about where and how to vote, but others are asking if their votes are secure and counted.

Voter security has found itself under the spotlight in recent times. The need to verify voters is a real focus.

When Wyomingites register to vote, the state’s registration verification system has many checks to make sure voters and votes are legitimate.

This system ensures a voter is a real person, not a felon, that they haven’t recently died, and they are of legal voting age.

Wyoming also has a “voter purge,” so if a person hasn’t voted in the last election, they are removed from the voter rolls and have to re-register in the next election.

Additionally, Wyoming purchased new ballot equipment during the 2020 election for all 23 counties and has current security installed with measures that aren’t internet accessible.

Voters can use machines or paper ballots to cast their votes, tracking there are no duplicates, and ballots are kept for 22 months afterward for any possible future verification.

“You know it would be dishonest to say there is zero voter fraud. Someone is always going to try it, but we do have systems in place to ensure that each voter, each registered voter only votes one time,” said Monique Meese, Communications & Policy Director for the Wyoming Secretary of State.

Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and absentee ballots must be received at the county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on election night.

Voters are encouraged to check out each candidate’s website beforehand. New voters can also print out a sample ballot if they need help with their ballots.

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