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Writer's pictureReasearch Rose

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY: Election Audits

Free, fair elections and good governance are two cornerstones of a vibrant democracy. Millennial Action Project (MAP) young legislators are working together to modernize legislatures, safeguard our elections, ensure that all eligible voters can cast ballots, and bring lawmaking into the 21st century. These post-partisan actions strengthen our democratic institutions by engaging Millennial leaders across the political spectrum and spurring innovative legislation.


In this challenging time for our democracy, many Americans are eager to know if policymakers are doing enough to ensure secure elections. Unfortunately, many officials have used these valid questions as a way to sow doubt and uncertainty on the integrity of America’s election administrators. Fortunately, there are several legislative examples, both from this year’s sessions and 2019-2020 sessions, that demonstrate how legislators can put politics aside and enact meaningful election security measures.


The primary method to do this should be the use of risk-limiting audits (RLAs), which make use of proven statistical sampling methods post-election to confirm officially reported results. RLAs are a policy that have received support from both parties in recent years, and stand in contrast to unproven or bad-faith “audit” policies that are intended to excessively challenge election results. Importantly, RLA procedures are implemented prior to an election taking place, different from some recent audits that have been instituted after an election has been concluded with results finalized and certified. To improve security and confidence, lawmakers conducting election oversight should always implement audit strategies before an election, a "results-blind" procedure that will not undermine faith in legitimately secure elections.



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