An “unwelcome burden” and “concern to taxpayers” is how Wyoming Rising representatives Renee Tafoya and Phyllis Roseberry described a proposal to recount 2020 election ballots by hand. 

On June 7, Roseberry and Tafoya spoke to the commissioners in opposition to a proposal by Boone Tidwell to recount ballots, saying it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and county staff time. They said it could also potentially put the county in legal trouble and create a new problem, whereby anyone who wanted to could request a recount of election ballots. 

“There are a few points we would like to make in opposition of that proposal, starting off with the unnecessary cost to taxpayers for something that is based on an unproven allegation of fraud,” Tafoya said. 

Both Roseberry and Tafoya previously worked as election judges and have some insight into the election process, which is why they believe there is no concern for fraud. Tafoya notes that “our counties are very secure in their integrity” and the elections office workers, judges and volunteers are “top notch people.”

“Many of us in Wyoming Rising believe that this proposal is really meant to undermine trust in the election and cast doubt and suspicion against our government,” Tafoya said. “We don’t think that there is any potential fraud at all. So having that claim of fraud seems a little out of left field to us and we feel as though this group is trying to cast doubt instead of actually trying to find fraud.”

One of the concerns, brought up at previous meetings, regards the legality of the proposal to recount the 2020 election ballots. At the May 17 meeting, Park County Commissioners asked the county attorney to look into this problem, but there is currently no update in regards to that request. 

Wyoming Rising representatives also expressed concerns that if the handcount proposal is approved, any group or individual can request a recount whenever they wish, which will potentially cost the county. 

“We feel as though you would be granting an undue privilege to a partisan group to recount votes in a certified election, if you did that then why couldn’t the Democrats recount? Why couldn’t I recount? Why couldn’t anyone just request a recount?” Tafoya asked.

The Wyoming Rising reps said that, if approved, this proposal could create uncertainty and unease regarding elections and cause suspicion of county and state government.

“To us in Wyoming Rising, to grant a small group this request would cast doubt on the integrity of the Secretary of State’s office and what they’ve said and their ability to conduct a good election,” Roseberry said. “We’re just here because we care about our democracy.”