Post-election Audit
Post-election Audit: A procedure that takes place after an election in which a sample of ballots from the election is recounted by hand in order to check the…
Definition
A procedure that takes place after an election in which a sample of ballots from the election is recounted by hand in order to check the electronic vote tallies reported on election night. A sample of ballots is chosen by randomly choosing audit units. Audit units may be entire precincts, individual voting machines, or batches of absentee ballots that were subtotaled on election night. Some advocates and voting experts argue that in addition to the randomly chosen audit units, post-election audits should also include a number of audit units chosen by candidates for office. Post-election audit practices vary considerably among the states that will conduct them in 2012.
Alternative Definitions
- Definition 2
Any review conducted after polls close for the purpose of determining whether the votes were counted accurately (a results audit) or whether proper procedures were followed (a process audit), or both.
- Definition 3
Any review conducted after polls close for the purpose of determining whether the votes were counted accurately (a results audit) or whether proper procedures were followed (a process audit), or both. SOURCE: Cyberspace Solarium Commission Final Report, 2020