Committee debates language to allow random and targeted audits of tabulators

The committee reviewed proposed amendments on post-election audits of tabulators and whether statute should require strictly random selection or allow the secretary of state discretion to perform targeted audits in certain circumstances.

Tim told the committee that rule 401001, subsection EB, already frames how the secretary of state selects precincts for audit — selecting “at random” but allowing adjustments to ensure geographic and size diversity. Several senators said they wanted to preserve the idea of a random selection process while allowing targeted or supplemental audits when there are specific concerns.

Senator Anne Roy asked whether the secretary of state could both perform random audits and carry out specific, targeted audits; members and staff confirmed that current practice provides both capabilities under the existing rule. Committee members discussed drafting statutory language that would require random audits but permit targeted audits in “extreme circumstances,” with consultation from the named legislative group for emergency matters.

One senator illustrated the point with a lottery metaphor: if all sampled towns happened to be in the same county by chance, the secretary could redraw until the sample better represented geographic diversity. Members emphasized they did not want to replace random selection with a blanket targeted-audit allowance, but rather to write language that preserves randomness while permitting targeted review when justified.

No formal statutory text was adopted during the meeting; the staff memo laid out decision points and the committee instructed staff to draft language that preserves randomness while explicitly authorizing limited targeted audits for specific, qualifying events.