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Committee begins review of a package of election bills: hand audits, recount rules, poll‑watcher rights and photo‑ID changes
Summary
The committee reviewed working drafts of multiple election bills including a proposal for random precinct hand audits, new recount thresholds and deposit rules, expanded poll‑watcher access, independent‑candidate signature and timing changes, voting‑machine test rules, and tightening acceptable photo ID for in‑person voting.
The Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions interim committee heard a detailed briefing on several election bill drafts covering post‑election audits, recounts, poll‑watcher authority, independent candidate nominations, voting‑machine testing and acceptable identification.
Josh Anderson (committee staff) walked members through working drafts (26LSO‑43 through 26LSO‑49). Key changes discussed included a precinct‑level random hand‑count audit after each primary and general election (secretary of state to select one precinct per county and county clerks to complete a hand count within seven days), revised recount thresholds that would trigger mandatory hand recounts (for example, automatic hand recounts for statewide or legislative offices if margins fall below 1% or 2% thresholds specified in the draft), and the creation of an election recount account to reimburse counties when recount costs exceed statutory deposits.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray said the hand‑count…
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