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Bill

HB 426

Election Law - Postelection Tabulation Audits - Risk-Limiting Audits

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anne Kaiser and 1 co-sponsor

Maryland requires post-election risk-limiting audits to statistically verify election results with reduced ballot examination while maintaining accuracy assurance statewide.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 321
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Bill Summary · HB 426

Legislative bill overview

HB 426 requires Maryland to implement risk-limiting audits (RLAs) as a post-election tabulation audit method. RLAs are statistical audits that verify election results with mathematical certainty while examining fewer ballots than traditional full audits. The bill establishes procedures for when and how these audits are conducted statewide.

Why is this important

Election auditing directly affects public confidence in voting accuracy and integrity. Risk-limiting audits offer a scientifically-grounded middle ground between no audit and hand-counting every ballot, potentially reducing audit costs while maintaining accountability. This makes election administration more efficient while providing statistical assurance that reported results are correct.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation complexity: RLAs require specialized training, software, and statistical expertise that may vary across Maryland's 24 jurisdictions, creating potential inconsistencies in execution
  • Ballot access requirements: The method depends on physical ballot availability and chain-of-custody procedures; counties with different voting system architectures may face technical hurdles
  • Sufficiency thresholds: Determining what margin of victory triggers an audit versus which results pass without one involves policy choices that could be viewed as either too lenient or too burdensome

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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