A check after an election where auditors hand-count paper ballots from a sample and compare the results to the originally reported totals.
A post-election audit that involves hand-counting a sample of votes on paper records, then comparing those counts to the corresponding vote totals originally reported as a check on the accuracy of election results, and to detect discrepancies using accurate hand-counts of the paper records as the benchmark.
Example
Auditors hand-count every ballot from three randomly selected precincts and confirm the hand-count matches the electronic totals before results are certified.
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A post-election audit that involves hand-counting a sample of votes on paper records, then comparing those counts to the corresponding vote totals originally reported as a check on the accuracy of election results, and to detect discrepancies using accurate hand-counts of the paper records as the benchmark.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Tabulation Audit. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved September 14, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/tabulation-audit
Sources
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