What's happening
This bill requires New York elections to use risk-limiting audits of voter verifiable audit records to improve election accuracy.
Why it matters
Shifts election audits from a fixed-percentage sample to risk-limiting audits. , meaning the number of ballots checked will be determined by statistical methods aimed at catching incorrect outcomes, rather than simply reviewing a set percentage of machines.
Empowers the State Board of Elections to set audit procedures and standards. , including how many ballots to audit and how to use statistical techniques, which could standardize and potentially improve audit effectiveness statewide.
Expands transparency and oversight. by maintaining requirements for advance notice and allowing candidates and parties to observe audit procedures, which helps build trust in the election process.
May impact how quickly and confidently election results are certified. , as risk-limiting audits are designed to escalate if discrepancies are found, potentially catching errors that older audit methods might miss.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Local boards of elections and bipartisan audit committees
They would conduct post-election audits under state regulations rather than the existing requirement to audit records from three percent of voting machines or systems.
New York State Board of Elections
It would have to issue risk-limiting audit regulations using statistical methods to determine how many records to audit and limit the risk of certifying an incorrect outcome.
Candidates, political parties and independent bodies entitled to appoint watchers
They would retain notice of the random audit-selection process and the right to appoint watchers to observe audits conducted under the new rules.
Headline styles
Audit Election Results
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7192
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to requiring the board of elections or a bipartisan committee to conduct a risk-limiting audit of voter verifiable audit records
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 9-211 of the election law, as amended by chapter 5 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
1. (a) Within fifteen days after each general or special election, within thirteen days after every primary election, and within seven days after every village election conducted by the board of elections, the board of elections or a bipartisan committee appointed by such board shall conduct an audit of the voter verifiable audit records from [three percent of] the voting machines or risk-limiting systems within the jurisdiction of such board in accordance with the regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section. Such audits may be performed manually or via the use of any automated tool authorized for such use by the state board of elections which is independent from the voting system it is being used to audit. Voting machines or systems shall be selected for audit through a random, manual process. At least five days prior to the time fixed for such selection process, the board of elections shall send notice by first class mail to each candidate, political party and independent body entitled to have had watchers present at the polls in any election district in such board's jurisdiction. Such notice shall state the time and place fixed for such random selection process. The audit shall be conducted in the same manner, to the extent applicable, as a canvass of paper ballots. Each candidate, political party or independent body entitled to appoint watchers to attend at a polling place shall be entitled to appoint such number of watchers to observe the audit.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02485-02-9
A. 7192 2
(b) The state board of elections shall promulgate regulations for the use of risk-limiting audits required by paragraph (a) of this section. The number of voter verifiable audit records selected for such audits shall be determined pursuant to such regulations that make use of statistical methods and are designed to limit the risk of certifying an incorrect outcome.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to any election held 180 days or more after it shall have taken effect; provided that the state board of elections is authorized to immediately adopt, amend and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary and desirable to effectuate the purposes of this act.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.