HB1246 Summary

• Requires election authorities to conduct a 10% election day audit of votes cast for statewide, countywide, federal races, and municipal races with over 50,000 registered voters, with results published within 24 hours.

• Mandates independent parallel election tabulation and audits (PETA) for every race and proposition, conducted by licensed public accounting firms selected through a competitive bidding process at least 45 days before election day.

• Establishes independent election audit committees in each jurisdiction to oversee PETA procurement and selection, with members appointed by qualifying political parties, election authorities, and experienced election judges.

• Requires optical scan and direct recording electronic (DRE) voting systems to meet federal voting system standards from the Election Assistance Commission and pass testing by approved independent testing authorities.

• Modifies early voting provisions to require election authorities using only DRE systems to have paper ballots available for voters who request them.