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Bill

Bill

SB 827

Relating to the audit of an election using an electronic voting system.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Mano DeAyala and 1 co-sponsor

Texas law now requires electronic voting system audits with standards for verifying machine results against paper records, effective September 1, 2025.

Effective on 9/1/25
#audits&auditors(s4334) #countygovernment--general(i0096) #elections--electionofficers(i0305) #elections--general(i0310) #elections--votingsystems(i0270) #secretaryofstate(v0042)
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Bill Summary · SB 827

Legislative bill overview

SB 827 establishes new requirements for auditing elections that use electronic voting systems in Texas. The bill sets standards for how election officials must conduct post-election audits to verify that electronic voting machine results match paper records or ballot images.

Why is this important

Election audits serve as a critical safeguard to detect potential errors or irregularities in vote counting. As Texas relies heavily on electronic voting systems, establishing clear audit procedures helps maintain public confidence in election integrity and provides a mechanism to catch discrepancies before results are certified.

Potential points of contention

  • Audit scope and frequency: Questions may arise about whether the audit requirements are sufficiently rigorous, how many ballots must be audited, and whether audits should be routine or only triggered by close margins
  • Implementation costs and timeline: Election officials may face resource constraints in conducting audits, particularly in smaller counties, and the September 1, 2025 effective date may present tight implementation timelines
  • Access and transparency: Debates could emerge over who can observe audits, what data is publicly available, and whether audit procedures are transparent enough to satisfy both election security advocates and those concerned about ballot privacy

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

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