Substitute Bill No. 1232 aims to enhance the integrity and transparency of elections in Connecticut by mandating risk-limiting audits for state elections. These audits, which must be conducted by registrars of voters within a specified timeframe after elections, will include a minimum of five percent of state legislative offices and various other offices. The process will be open to public observation, and election officials will be compensated at their municipality's standard pay rate. If an audit yields an "INCONCLUSIVE" result, a manual recount of all ballots for that office will be ordered. The bill also introduces a new definition for "risk-limiting audit" and outlines procedures for reporting results to the Secretary of the State and The University of Connecticut for analysis.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing laws, including the removal of certain requirements for audits based on federal law and clarifying the process for addressing discrepancies in election results. It emphasizes the importance of transparency by mandating public access to audit results, which can serve as prima facie evidence in disputes. The Secretary of the State is granted authority to investigate discrepancies in voting tabulators and may decertify them if necessary. The bill also establishes a pilot program for conducting risk-limiting audits during municipal elections in 2025, with specific selection criteria for participating municipalities. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline the process for addressing election-related complaints and improve the electoral process's integrity.

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