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Pennsylvania State Senate
10/05/2024 10:52 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=41211
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: July 20, 2023 01:04 PM
From: Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill
To: All Senate members
Subject: Uniformity and Standardization of Post-Election Audits
 
In the near future, I will introduce legislation to provide for more effective and efficient post-election audits so that Pennsylvania voters will have greater confidence in election results. 
 
Several years ago, Pennsylvania began the process of piloting risk-limiting audits (RLA) and, more recently, has gone through two election cycles of statewide RLAs.  During his confirmation hearing before the Senate State Government Committee on June 26, Secretary of State Al Schmidt acknowledged that almost all counties complied with RLAs.
 
Using statutory language to create a uniform structure will provide an important and necessary oversight in the post-election audit process to ensure full compliance by all 67 counties. Additionally, these enhanced audits will replace the outdated sampling statute currently mandated in the Election Code. 
 
My legislation will ensure the Department of State and county Boards of Election use an audit method that provides a high statistical confidence that the election outcomes in audited statewide contests are correct. 
 
Specifically, my legislation provides for the following after primary and general elections:
  • The county boards of elections will participate in a statewide and county post-election audit and review a random sample of ballots cast.
  • The Department of State and each county will provide public notice of the audit process and will conduct the audit within public view.
  • The post-election audit must be completed during the official canvass before a county board finalizes the certification of the election returns.
Proven post-election audits of election outcomes are in the best interest of Pennsylvania voters and citizens, as well as political campaigns, candidates, and parties. 
 
Several other states, including Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Texas, have similar measures in place. This legislation will provide both large and small counties with the tools to confirm election outcomes, increase public confidence, and reinforce effective election administration in a non-partisan manner.
 
I hope that you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation. 



Introduced as SB1081


Memo Updated: July 20, 2023 01:08 PM