HB0712 Summary - Illinois Election Integrity Act

• Requires election authorities to conduct a 10% election day audit of votes cast for statewide offices, countywide offices, federal races, and municipal races with over 50,000 registered voters, with audits performed by election judges on election day after polls close.

• Mandates independent parallel election tabulation and audits by contracted public accounting firms for all races and propositions, with initial results report within 72 hours and operational report within 21 days of election closure.

• Establishes an independent election audit committee in each jurisdiction with at least 5 members (including party representatives and election judges) to prepare requests for proposals and select independent auditors, with committees convening at least 120 days before election day.

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

• Creates the Illinois Election Integrity Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, funded by voluntary tax checkoff contributions on individual income tax returns, with approximately $2 million required for the first election cycle.