Annapolis – Today, Gov. Wes Moore (D-Maryland) signed into law legislation that will  strengthen the post-election audit process after each statewide election.

Pictured from left: Department of Legislative Services Stan Ward; HB 426 sponsor Del. Anne Kaiser; Common Cause Maryland Executive Director Joanne Antoine; Common Cause Maryland Policy & Engagement Manager Morgan Drayton at the bill signing.

“Every voter deserves to know election outcomes are fair and accurate. This legislation will ensure election outcomes truly reflect the will of voters,” said Joanne Antoine, Executive Director of Common Cause Maryland. “We are grateful to Senator M. Washington and Delegate Kaiser for their leadership and commitment to increasing public trust in our elections.”

“Voters want to know elections are being checked for accuracy. With the passage of SB 313/HB 426, risk-limiting audits provide Maryland’s election officials with the most effective tool to check outcomes, and ensure the right person is seated in office — giving justified confidence in our electoral process. We’d like to thank Sen. Washington and Del. Kaiser for shepherding this bill through the legislative process and onto Gov. Moore’s desk,” said Pamela Smith, President & CEO of Verified Voting. 

Pictured from left: SB 313 sponsor Sen. Mary Washington; Common Cause Maryland Executive Director Joanne Antoine.

Post-election audits are highly effective methods to ensure correct election results and increase public trust in elections. Currently, Maryland’s post-election manual audit is not held until months after the election, and the automated software audit does not provide a path to correct an election outcome if it uncovers evidence that the initial election result was wrong.

This legislation will require risk-limiting audits to be performed after each statewide election. Risk-limiting audits are rigorous, cost-effective post-election audits that help confirm the unofficial election outcome matches the ballots cast.

Common Cause Maryland and Verified Voting testified in support of SB 313/HB 426.

Learn more about risk-limiting audits here.

For more information about Common Cause Maryland, visit Commoncause.org/maryland.

For more information about Verified Voting, visit verifiedvoting.org.

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