Committee approves pilot for post‑election audits and limited procedural reviews

Senate Bill 524, presented to the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee, would require post‑election result audits and authorize the State Board of Election Commissioners to perform limited procedural audits in specific circumstances. Daniel Schultz, director for the State Election Commission, told the committee the bill’s primary goal is to "build voter confidence in the integrity of our elections" by comparing paper audit trails to electronic counts and publishing a report after audits.

Schultz said the commission plans to run an initial pilot limited to five counties, with selection "by lot" (random draw) for the results audits; the procedural audit authority would be discretionary and limited to up to three counties per election where there is a heightened concern about procedures. He said the pilot and initial audits would be resourced with existing staff and funds, including reductions in office rent the commission expects to realize.

Committee members pressed on standards, penalties and county impacts. Schultz acknowledged the bill’s phrase "high probability exists that election laws were violated" was not a technical criminal standard but rather a policy threshold to justify a comprehensive review; he and others emphasized the audits are intended to verify counts and improve procedures rather than to punish routine errors. The bill includes a provision allowing the board to withhold certain state reimbursements for willful refusal to cooperate, which witnesses said mirrors existing but rarely exercised authority.

County election commissioners who testified supported the measure as a way to strengthen procedures; one testified that Jefferson County’s primary reimbursement was about $76,000 and said most counties would cooperate. The committee adopted the bill and voted to pass it out of committee.