The cost behind the ballot counting — A look at election costs across the state
Election integrity is a hot topic not only in Weston County but also across the state, and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray is pushing for the elimination of voting machines in favor of a pen-and-ballot election process.
On May 8, Gray discussed several of his efforts to ensure integrity in Wyoming elections with the Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, stating that one thing he would like to see is the push for hand counting of ballots in various situations.
In support of his efforts, Wheatland resident, an active resident in support of hand counting, Jill Kaufman spoke to the committee during public comment, and expressed frustration that she constantly hears complaints about how expensive hand counting is but little is said about the cost of election machines.
“All of the sudden we have a new system now and nobody is complaining about the excessive amounts going to the systems,” she said, noting that machine costs vary depending on the amenities.
It is, in fact, difficult to determine how much elections cost or to track any increase in those costs associated with ballot machine usage, as the News Letter Journal discovered when it attempted to break down election costs both in Weston County and statewide. While it appears that the cost of elections increased when machine came into play, those costs are reported in different ways hindered the newspaper’s ability to get the best picture of what people pay to vote.
For example, the News Letter Journal was unable to pinpoint when voting machines were first used in Wyoming, but that use almost certainly became universal as part of an effort in 2020 by the Secretary of State’s Office to align elections across the state.
Voting machines
In 2020, election machines through Election Systems and Software were purchased by the State of Wyoming with the understanding that the counties would assume maintenance, according to Joe Rubino of the Secretary of State’s office.
According to information provided by Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock, the amount Weston County pays ES&S varies from year to year. In 2019, the county paid $4,673, 2020 total payments were $2,630.50, and 2021 costs were $6,505. In 2022, however, costs climbed to $32,636.95, and then another $6,505 was paid in 2023, and another $27,615.30 was paid in 2024.
Beginning in 2021 and to the present, Weston County pays $6,505 a year for warranty, maintenance, licensing and software. In election years, the county pays additional funds for everything from ballots to programming for the machines, according to vouchers provided by Hadlock.
Human element
In addition to machine costs, Weston County pays a varying number of individuals to work elections each year. According to county vouchers, both the amount paid and the number of election staff change from year to year.
The highest amounts paid out were in the 2020 primary, in which Weston County paid out approximately $7,055.94 for 42 items associated with the election, and the 2024 primary election, when Weston County paid out $7,150.29 for 40 line items. The lowest amount paid out was in the controversial 2024 general election, when Weston County paid $5,429.78 for 33 items.
For the 2020 primary, as listed in the Sept. 1, 2020, vouchers, Weston County paid approximately $7,055.94 for 42 items associated with the election. Individual payments ranged from $25 to $323.50.
On Dec. 1, 2020, Weston County paid out 47 items for the 2020 general election totaling roughly $6,647.31. Payments ranged from $15 to $244.
For the 2022 primary, Weston County paid out approximately $6,325.55 for 39 line items on Sept. 6, 2022. Payments ranged from $10 to $330.
On Dec. 6, 2022, the county paid out $6,045.49 for 40 line items associated with the 2022 general election, Payments ranged from $20 to $291.77.
For the 2024 primary election, Weston County paid out $7,150.29 for 40 line items. Payments ranged from $22.50 to $250.80.
On Dec. 3, 2024, Weston County paid $5,429.78 for 33 items. Payments ranged from $76.80 to $248.76.
In the vouchers, payments are listed as being for election supply, expense, miles, food and salary, depending on the year.
Statewide election costs
It is important to note that the payments reported for Weston County represent amounts tracked for the calendar year and not the fiscal year, which differs from the time frames used by the State of Wyoming in reporting these costs.
Every year a cost of government report is prepared for Wyoming, and in that report, an election cost is listed for each of Wyoming’s 23 counties, as well as the state as a whole. According to the reports, county costs vary significantly, depending largely on the size of the community.
According to those reports, statewide election costs have climbed from $1,001,796 in 2002 to a high of $3,545,498 in 2023. Statewide election costs first exceeded $3 million in 2009, when the report noted a total cost of $3,497,963.
It is important to note that these costs are reported for a fiscal year, so some of the costs shown for elections held in even numbered years actually appear in odd-numbered fiscal years..)
Here is a breakdown of the total that Wyoming pays, what Weston County pays, the county with the highest cost and the county with the lowest cost – all dating back to 2002.
2002: Statewide total: $1,001,796; Weston County total: $15,156; Highest costs: Sweetwater County: $156,750; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $999
2003: Statewide total: $2,365,606; Weston County total: $34,432; Highest costs: Sweetwater County: $272,807; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $13,193
2004: Statewide total: $1,149,483; Weston County total: $18,666; Highest costs: Laramie County: $176,450; Lowest costs: Teton County: $0
2005: Statewide total: $2,463,443; Weston County total: $38,057; Highest costs: Sweetwater County: $285,250; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $13,827
2006: Statewide total: $1,220,718; Weston County total: $22,600; Highest costs: Sweetwater County: $219,292; Lowest costs: Sublette County: $0
2007: Statewide total: $2,639,224; Weston County total: $37,002; Highest costs: Sweetwater County: $319,263; Lowest costs: Teton County: $0
2008: Statewide total: $1,321,599; Weston County total: $24,768; Highest costs: Laramie County: $295,386; Lowest costs: Teton County: $0
2009: Statewide total: $3,497,963; Weston County total: $36,017; Highest costs: Laramie County: $444,813; Lowest costs: $32,719
2010: Statewide total: $1,569,684; Weston County total: $18,972; Highest costs: Sweetwater County: $239,190; Lowest costs: Natrona County: $1,759
2011: Statewide total: $3,431,239; Weston County total: $51,292; Highest costs: Laramie County: $431,737; Lowest costs: Sublette County: $26,782
2012: Statewide total: $1,942,432; Weston County total: $30,305; Highest costs: Laramie County: $303,361; Lowest costs: Natrona County: $1,478
2013: Statewide total: $3,365,723; Weston County total: $35,397; Highest costs: Laramie County: $447,120; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $30,274
2014: Statewide total: $1,929,424; Weston County total: $21,944; Highest costs: Laramie County: $379,409; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $9,829
2015: Statewide total: $3,385,627; Weston County total: $25,020; Highest costs: Laramie County: $588,820; Lowest costs: Weston County: $25,020
2016: Statewide total: $1,762,127; Weston County total: $26,537; Highest costs: Laramie County: $268,416; Lowest costs: Washakie County: $9,700
2017: Statewide total: $3,372,260; Weston County total: $31,261; Highest costs: Laramie County: $419,415; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $28,979
2018: Statewide total: $1,554,690; Weston County total: $10,625; Highest costs: Laramie County: $271,718; Lowest costs: Natrona County: $544
2019: Statewide total: $3,080,119; Weston County total: $23,485; Highest costs: Laramie County: $355,496; Lowest costs: Weston County: $23,485
2020: Statewide total: $1,457,251; Weston County total: $5,733; Highest costs: Teton County: $233,533; Lowest costs: Sublette County: $115
2021: Statewide total: $2,893,170; Weston County total: $18,539; Highest costs: Laramie County: $422,760; Lowest costs: Niobrara County: $13,434
2022: Statewide total: $2,250,313; Weston County total: $17,328; Highest costs: Laramie County: $460,933; Lowest costs: Teton County $4,728
2023: Statewide total: $3,545,498; Weston County total: $25,377; Highest costs: Laramie County: $366,204; Lowest costs: Weston County $25,377
2024: Statewide total: $2,248,685; Weston County total: $10,064; Highest costs: Laramie County: $330,698; Lowest costs: Weston County $10,064