Bill > A5037

This bill revises the procedures for post-election audits in New Jersey by introducing more flexible methods for verifying election results. The bill allows post-election audits to be conducted not just through hand-to-eye counts, but also using independent third-party electronic machines that are separate from the official ballot tabulation system. It eliminates previous requirements for achieving specific statistical power thresholds in audits and instead mandates that audit procedures be published before elections and be subject to public comment. The bill maintains the requirement for auditing at least two percent of election districts in each county, with exemptions for smaller elections. The Secretary of State will continue to appoint an independent audit team annually, ensuring that team members have no conflicts of interest with political campaigns or voting system manufacturers. The audit team retains the ability to expand audits if initial results show potential discrepancies, and the bill preserves the option for candidates to request additional recounts. Importantly, no county can certify election results before the audit is completed, ensuring a thorough verification process that maintains transparency and public confidence in election outcomes.

Government Affairs

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5037