Wyoming's Trauner Won't Seek Recount!

Says State Law Doesn't Allow Hand-Counting of Ballots!

According to the Casper Star-Tribune, Congressional candidate Gary Trauner has decided not to seek a recount of the votes in his race, despite concerns about the accuracy of a count and an official margin of only 1,012 votes between Trauner and incumbent Barbara Cubin.

Trauner said in his statement that because Wyoming law does not allow for hand counting of ballots, he didn't think there would be any change in the outcome by simply having a recount by machine.

He said he believes the state needs to look at changing its election laws to allow counting ballots by hand if necessary.

"What is the purpose of having recounts in tight races and using machines that keep a paper ballot, if the law does not allow for manual checks and balances in counting those paper ballots?" he said.

Peggy Nighswonger, state elections director, confirmed there was no provision for hand counting ballots in Wyoming. The only instance she could think of where a recount by hand might occur is if all the tabulation machines in a county broke down, she said.

The race was not quite close enough to qualify for an automatic recount. There is apparently no provision in Wyoming state law for recounts requested by voters, except for ballot measures.

Velvet Revolution appreciates the efforts Gary Trauner gave toward full and accurate count of the vote and agrees that hand counting of ballots must be provided for by a change in Wyoming law.

In the meantime, we are looking into the claims of irregularities in the Wyoming Congressional election. Anyone with information regarding election fraud in this or any other race is invited to email or call our tip line: 888-VOTE-TIP. Anyone with information about election irregularities not involving fraud is invited to email us at our regular email address.