West Virginia Bill 5236 Requires Internet-Free Ballot Tabulator Inspections and State Audits

Original title: The purpose of this bill is to ensure compliance with state law requiring ballot tabulating equipment to not be connected to the internet, by requiring random inspections by the Secretary of State, including all necessary reporting.

Last action · February 5, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Erica Moore and 8 others

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5236 requires county commissions to inspect all precinct ballot tabulators for internet connectivity no later than one week before early voting begins and submit a report to the Secretary of State. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of State conduct random pre-election audits of at least 10 percent of across a minimum of five counties.

Why it matters

County election officials must perform mandatory pre-election physical and digital checks on all voting tabulators and file formal verification reports, while noncompliant equipment is barred from use until cleared.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

County Commissions

Must inspect all precinct tabulating equipment, verify the absence of modems and SIM cards, seal the equipment, and submit a detailed verification report to the Secretary of State.

Directly affected

Secretary of State

Must review county inspection reports, confirm compliance for any flagged equipment, conduct random pre-election audits across at least five counties, and publish a public report of findings.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must county commissions check during the tabulator inspection?

County commissions must verify that tabulators are independent and nonnetworked, lack installed s or s, and are properly sealed for the election.

What happens if a tabulator is found to be noncompliant?

Noncompliant tabulation equipment cannot be used in any election until the Secretary of State confirms its compliance with state law.

How many counties are subject to the Secretary of State's pre-election audit?

The Secretary of State must audit tabulators in a minimum of five counties chosen at random.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 5, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Feb 5, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 5, 2026HouseCommittee
To Judiciary
Feb 5, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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