Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves law requiring county post‑election audits after general elections
Summary
The Senate approved the Alabama Post‑Election Audit Act (HB 95), which requires the probate judge in each county to audit ballots in a randomly selected precinct and at least one countywide or statewide race after each general election, and directs the state to reimburse counties for audit costs.
The Alabama Senate passed House Bill 95, establishing a statewide routine post‑election audit process for countywide and statewide general elections.
Under the new law, the canvassing board of each county must randomly select at least one precinct (excluding absentee and provisional ballots) and at least one countywide or statewide race to be audited. The judge of probate sets the date, assembles an inspector and poll workers, and conducts the audit no earlier than 31 days after the election or after the expiration of the period for election contests; the audit must be completed within 30 days of commencement. The law allows manual recounts or ballot counters, but requires at least 30 randomly selected ballots to be manually compared to tabulator results in each audited set.
Audits are public: poll watchers and accredited media may observe, and the judge of probate must give public notice of the time and place. The probate judge must report findings to the Secretary of State, who will publish audit results on the official website and report findings to the governor and legislature. The comptroller will reimburse counties for all audit expenses.
Supporters said the measure turns a pilot program into permanent law, improves public confidence in tabulation accuracy and provides state reimbursement to avoid local budget burdens. The Senate passed the bill by roll call.
