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Bill

HB 5127

Allowing the Secretary of State’s office to transmit electronically the total ballots cast, counted, and rejected

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kayla Young

HB 5127 authorizes West Virginia's Secretary of State to electronically transmit election ballot totals (cast, counted, rejected) to modernize vote reporting procedures.

To House Judiciary
#elections
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5127

Legislative bill overview

HB 5127 permits West Virginia's Secretary of State to electronically transmit data on total ballots cast, counted, and rejected during elections. This modernizes how election officials report vote totals by allowing digital transmission rather than potentially requiring physical or alternative methods. The bill appears to be a technical update to election administration procedures.

Why is this important

Election result reporting speed and accuracy directly affect public confidence in elections and the timeline for certifying winners. Modernizing transmission methods can reduce delays in reporting official results while maintaining record-keeping requirements. This reflects broader trends in states updating election infrastructure to balance efficiency with security.

Potential points of contention

  • Election security concerns: Opponents may argue that electronic transmission of ballot totals creates cybersecurity vulnerabilities or opportunities for tampering, and may prefer paper-based or air-gapped systems
  • Lack of specificity: The bill's brevity raises questions about what security protocols, encryption standards, or verification procedures would govern electronic transmission
  • Certification and audit trail: Unclear whether electronic transmission maintains sufficient documentation for post-election audits and recounts, or whether paper records must still be retained

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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