Wyoming Senate adopts amendment to allow public observers at county voting-machine tests with clerk discretion

The Wyoming Senate on second reading adopted Amendment 1 to Senate File 28, which allows members of the public to attend county voting-machine tests while preserving county clerks' authority to limit attendance to ensure orderly testing.

Senator Case, sponsor of the amendment, said the change adds public representatives to existing party and candidate observers and that the goal was to "bring the public in." He told colleagues, "we'd like to have 3, and as many as the room and facilities and security can safely accommodate." During floor debate, Senators Steinmetz and others argued three could be too few to represent all parties and independents, and Senator Cole said he was concerned that wording about "orderly testing" left too much discretion to clerks.

Senator Nethercott defended relying on county clerks' statutory obligation to protect machines and election integrity. After discussion and an acknowledgment by Senator Case that the language may require further refinement, the amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered for third reading.

Senator Case asked colleagues to revisit the exact minimum on Monday to ensure party and independent representation is accommodated. The record shows the Senate adopted the amendment and proceeded toward final reading.