Weston County GOP committee pushes hand counts, forwards resolution to county commissioners

The Weston County Republican Party’s election‑integrity committee presented a PowerPoint arguing for a return to hand counting of ballots and the committee moved a resolution to take that presentation to the Weston County Board of Commissioners. The presenter, introduced as the committee chair, told delegates the group had run a hand‑count demonstration and compiled budget figures and public‑opinion surveys to justify asking the county to reconsider its voting equipment and procedures.

During the presentation the chair said some components attached to current tabulators were "not certified," that antivirus updates for the county’s voting system had lapsed and that vendors had placed modems in some tabulators nationally. "These machines are no longer viable," the presenter said, summarizing a litany of technical and support concerns and urging the body to press for county consideration. The committee cited specific budget numbers from county records: $27,006.15 in July–November 2024 costs and $52,004.16 for total 2024 election costs; their estimate for a full‑county hand‑count alternative in 2026 was approximately $26,455.

A committee member reported informal precinct surveying (55 people contacted at a grocery store) showing a majority in that sample favoring a return to hand counts, while some respondents said they preferred machines for speed. Delegates voted to forward the resolution and the presentation materials to the Weston County Board of Commissioners and to present the committee’s case on accuracy, integrity and transparency.

The motion passed by voice vote; delegates asked that the resolution be edited to state explicitly it comes from the Weston County Republican Party before being forwarded to county officials.