Why It Matters
A county clerk in neighboring Wyoming faces serious criminal charges for allegedly falsifying election documents, adding to growing concerns about election integrity across the Mountain West. The case involves a local official accused of knowingly certifying a false audit after a ballot miscount in the 2024 general election.
What Happened
Wyoming authorities arrested Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock on Wednesday on two felony charges related to her handling of the 2024 general election. State investigators say Hadlock knowingly filed a false post-election audit that reported zero errors when a subsequent audit of the same ballots revealed 21 discrepancies.
The charges include violating the election code as an official and falsifying election documents. Each felony carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
According to court documents signed by a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation special agent, Hadlock certified the initial audit despite receiving explicit instructions from the Secretary of State’s office on proper procedures. Investigators also spoke with two witnesses who said they heard Hadlock describe election audits as stupid.
By The Numbers
- 21 errors found in subsequent audit of ballots Hadlock certified as error-free
- 75 ballots sampled in the disputed post-election audit
- 3 separate criminal cases now filed against Hadlock
- 5 years maximum prison sentence for each felony count
What Led Here
The charges stem from an election night error in which Hadlock used wrong ballots, causing a dramatic miscount in the uncontested race for House District 1. The mistake led to a significant undercount of votes for Speaker of the House Chip Neiman, who was running unopposed.
After Weston County voters raised concerns, the Wyoming State Canvassing Board faced pressure to delay certifying results. State lawmakers subpoenaed Hadlock to testify about the incident, but she failed to appear, citing a scheduling conflict. That led to separate misdemeanor charges in November.
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray expressed concerns about the election results on election night and could not reach Hadlock, prompting him to contact the Weston County Sheriff’s office.
Zoom Out
The case represents one of the most serious allegations against an election official in the Mountain West region. Governor Mark Gordon directed the state Attorney General’s office in January to seek Hadlock’s removal from office following a verified complaint from Weston County voters.
Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen is serving as special prosecutor in proceedings to determine whether Hadlock should be removed from office. That trial is scheduled to begin next week.
What’s Next
Hadlock faces a removal trial set to begin in less than a week. The proceeding will determine whether she committed acts of misconduct and malfeasance serious enough to warrant removal from office. The new felony charges will be addressed separately in criminal court.
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