Substitute Bill No. 1232 proposes the implementation of risk-limiting audits for state elections in Connecticut, requiring registrars of voters to conduct these audits between fifteen days after an election and two business days before the official canvass. The audits will cover various offices, including presidential electors and state offices, with a minimum of five percent of state legislative offices selected randomly. The process will be open to public observation, and election officials will be compensated at their municipality's standard pay rate. The bill also mandates that any discrepancies found during the audits be reported to the Secretary of the State and the State Elections Enforcement Commission, with provisions for manual recounts and potential recertification of voting tabulators if necessary.

Additionally, the bill introduces a pilot program for risk-limiting audits during municipal elections in 2025, selecting three municipalities based on population size for participation. It includes several amendments to existing laws, such as replacing references to "manual tabulation of paper ballots" with "audit" and establishing timelines for filing complaints related to election disputes. The effective date for the pilot program is set for July 1, 2025, with most sections of the bill becoming effective on January 1, 2026. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in Connecticut through systematic auditing and clear procedures for addressing election-related complaints.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-320f, 9-323, 9-324, 9-328, 9-3, 9-320g
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 9-320f, 9-323, 9-324, 9-328, 9-3, 9-320g
File No. 100: 9-320f, 9-323, 9-324, 9-328, 9-3, 9-320g
APP Joint Favorable: 9-320f, 9-323, 9-324, 9-328, 9-3, 9-320g