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Board adopts minor updates to risk-limiting audit manual
Summary
The State Board approved minor procedural and formatting edits to the risk-limiting audit (RLA) manual, clarifying counting standards, authorized representatives' roles and batch comparison tips; staff said changes were minor and annual.
The Virginia State Board of Elections approved minor updates to its risk-limiting audit manual during the May meeting.
Rachel Lawless, confidential policy adviser at the Department of Elections, told the board the changes are routine annual updates that reflect legislative changes and procedural improvements. She cited a statutory requirement that local electoral boards and general registrars conduct RLAs annually under the supervision of the Department of Elections, referencing Code of Virginia section 24.2-6712(b).
Lawless said the revisions were small: updated screenshots, added clarifying language on the use of the Statewide Election System's hand-counting standards and on the role of authorized representatives, tips on organizing ballots during a batch-comparison audit, and minor grammar and formatting adjustments.
Board members thanked the RLA team. One member said the audits were accurate and that Virginians can feel comfortable about the process. Another member noted the statutory timelines are exacting and thanked staff for the work.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the proposed amendments. Chairman O'Bannon, Vice Chair Danz, Mister Weinstein, Doctor Stolle and Secretary Elvis Long recorded ayes.
The board's motion did not include further implementation details; Department of Elections staff will distribute the updated manual to local officials.
