Colorado has completed a first-of-its-kind statewide election audit, which drew attention from outside the state, with all participating counties passing. That means the so-called risk-limiting audit showed the state’s vote tabulating machines properly counted ballots from the election that ended earlier this month. The audit involved a manual recount of a sample of ballots from the more than 50 counties that had elections this year and compared them with how they were interpreted by tabulating machines. The exercise, which began late last week and was completed Tuesday, comes amid national concern about election integrity. “I think it’s fair to say that both state and county election officials were a little anxious because this has never been done before,” Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said in a written statement. “But it turned out to be an amazing success, and that’s because our staff and our county clerks have done a phenomenal job. I am thankful for their hard work and dedication.”
The audit drew observers from Rhode Island, as well as top federal voting-oversight officials.
“Colorado’s risk-limiting audit provided great insights into how to conduct more efficient and effective post-election audits,” said Matt Masterson, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, which aids states with their elections. “The EAC is eager to share some of the lessons learned with election officials across America.”
The audit resulted from a bill passed by state lawmakers in 2009. The first audit was supposed to happen in 2014, but training and technological challenges pushed it back until last week’s elections.
Full Article: Colorado’s risk-limiting election audit has been completed.