AB 743

Beginning with the 2018 partisan primary, this bill requires the Elections

Commission to conduct risk-limiting audits following each regularly scheduled

primary and general election. The bill defines a risk-limiting audit as an audit

protocol that makes use of statistical methods and is designed to limit to acceptable

levels the risk of certifying a preliminary election outcome that constitutes an

incorrect outcome.

Risk-limiting audits performed for and between the 2018 partisan primary and

2020 spring election are to be performed on a pilot basis on a limited number of offices

specified in the bill: one statewide elective office and one local elective office in each

county in which an election for local office is held. Beginning with the 2020 partisan

primary, the commission must perform risk-limiting audits following each regularly

scheduled election in the manner determined by the commission pursuant to rules

promulgated by the commission. The bill requires the commission to consult with

statisticians, municipal and county clerks, and voting equipment vendors when

promulgating the rules.

The commission must provide at least 48 hours' notice prior to conducting each

risk-limiting audit, and the audit must be open to the public. The commission must

complete each risk-limiting audit within six months following the date of the

election for which the audit was performed and must publish the results of each audit

on the commission's Internet site. In addition, the bill requires, by July 1, 2020,

following the end of the pilot program, and every five years thereafter, the

commission to submit a report to the governor, the Joint Committee on Finance, and

the legislature on the cost and value of performing risk-limiting audits.