The bill amends various sections of the Washington state election code to enhance the auditing process during the election certification period. It requires county auditors to conduct audits of duplicated ballots to ensure the voter's intent is preserved and a clear audit trail is maintained. New procedures for limited hand-count audits and risk-limiting audits are introduced, mandating that county canvassing boards establish these procedures and report results to the Secretary of State within a specified timeframe. The bill also emphasizes transparency by allowing political party observers to participate in the audit process.

Additionally, the bill amends RCW 29A.04.611 to strengthen the authority of the Secretary of State as the chief election officer, enabling the establishment of reasonable rules for the uniform execution of election provisions. Key insertions include the approval and certification of voting systems and vote tallying software, as well as standards for audit procedures, such as random selection of audit samples and methods for investigating discrepancies. The legislation also outlines procedures for resolving discrepancies between ballot counting systems and risk-limiting audits, establishes accessibility standards for voting technology, and implements procedures for special elections and partisan primaries, all aimed at improving the integrity, transparency, and accessibility of the electoral process in Washington.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 29A.60.125, 29A.60.185, 29A.04.611