Whatever voting system is used, it is a basic fact of
elections that votes are miscounted. In every major election
there are
instances of vote totals that have to be amended after problems
counting the
votes have been found. These problems include switching vote
totals for
two candidates, double counting votes from particular precincts, and
misreading
or mistranscribing vote tallies. Because of this, it is
necessary that
vote counts be audited in a manner likely to detect any error in the
results.
Additionally, it is important that all audits and recounts
follow these
principles:
- Transparency
- Independent
oversight
- Flexible sample
size based upon the margin of victory
- Recounts are
expanded to more precincts when discrepancies are found
New
Jersey enacted the first law
(AB
2730 of 2007) in the country that adapts recount procedures to the
outcome of
the election — in closer races, where a smaller discrepancy
could change the
outcome, the recount will be broader. The scope of the audit
is also
expanded when discrepancies are found. Additionally, the law
sets up an
independent commission to design and oversee the audits. The commission includes
statisticians and has
strong transparency guidelines.
Minnesota
recently
passed an innovative
amendment (Chapter Law 336 of 2008) to its audit procedures
that allows a
candidate to obtain a discretionary recount of up to three precincts at
their
expense. This is an economical and convenient way to boost
the integrity
of elections by allowing those most likely to detect questionable vote
totals
the ability to direct limited recounts.
