HARRISBURG, PA — In a significant step toward ensuring the integrity of its electoral process, Pennsylvania initiated its fourth statewide risk-limiting audit (RLA) for the April 23, 2024, presidential primary on Thursday. This audit represents the state’s ongoing commitment to transparent and secure elections.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt praised the RLA as the pinnacle of election audit standards, stating, “With a high degree of confidence, this RLA process provides a statistically sound, scientific method for confirming that the reported outcome of the audited election is accurate.” This method is recognized for its rigorous approach to verifying election outcomes, bolstering public trust in the process.
The audit began with a unique procedure where ten Department of State employees rolled 10-sided dice to generate a random 20-digit seed number. This number determines which ballot batches from various counties are selected for auditing in the days to follow. The use of randomization is crucial in eliminating bias and ensuring the audit’s impartiality.
In keeping with Governor Shapiro’s administration’s pledge for openness, the event was livestreamed, allowing citizens to witness the audit process first-hand. This transparency is vital in an era where the legitimacy of electoral processes is frequently under scrutiny.
The focus of this RLA is the contest for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, chosen through a random-selection drawing that was also broadcast live to the public. County officials will proceed to manually tally the votes from the selected ballot batches and compare the results with the original machine counts for the race. This “batch comparison” audit aims to verify that the paper ballots were accurately tabulated by counties, ensuring the reported election outcome reflects a true and fair count.
This RLA is executed alongside the mandatory 2% review required after each primary and general election in Pennsylvania, where counties must recount a statistically significant sample of ballots. The deadline for counties to complete the RLA is May 10, with all election results to be certified to Schmidt by May 13.
The adoption of risk-limiting audits is a critical measure in enhancing election security and transparency. By employing a scientifically grounded approach to audit a representative sample of votes, Pennsylvania aims to affirm the reliability of its election outcomes. This process not only serves to validate the results of the specific contest being audited but also acts as a deterrent against potential tampering and reinforces voter confidence in the electoral system. Such initiatives are increasingly important in today’s politically charged environment, where the assurance of election integrity is paramount for the functioning of democracy.
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