Post-Election Audits: Restoring Trust in Elections

Publication Date: August 2008

Publisher: Brennan Center for Justice; Samuelson Law, Technology, and Public Policy Clinic (University of California, Los Angeles. School of Law)

Author(s): Lawrence Norden; Aaron Burstein; Joseph Lorenzo Hall; Margaret Chen

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Voting; Elections

Type: Report

Abstract:

The Brennan Center and the Samuelson Clinic convened a blue ribbon panel (the “Audit Panel”) of statisticians, voting experts, computer scientists and several of the nation’s leading election officials to assist them in reviewing and evaluating both existing post-election audit laws and procedures, as well as the papers of academics and election integrity activists who have frequently criticized such laws and procedures as inadequate. Based on input from the Audit Panel, the Brennan Center and Samuelson Clinic then made a number of conclusions and recommendations about best audit practices.