This information was reviewed in October 2017.
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This information was reviewed in October 2017.
Virginia's audit law, signed in 2014 and amended in 2017, is not binding on the official results. Under the amended language, the State Board is "shall coordinate a post-election risk-limiting
audit annually of ballot scanner machines in use in the Commonwealth". Virginia's audit provisions, with the 2017 amended language are found at Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1.
Virginia's audit provisions state that "[c]andidates and political parties may have representatives observe the audits" but make no mention of observation by the general public.Va. Code Ann. §24.2 - 671.1(C) and (D).
Beginning with the November 2017 election, all localities in Virginia will use paper ballot voting systems with integrated ballot marking devices for voters with disabilities. For details visit the Virginia page on The Verifier.
Virginia's audit provisions state specifically that "[a]n audit shall have no effect on the election results". See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (B).
Virginia's audit law requires the electoral boards and the Election department to submit a report to the State Board of Elections, which "shall include a comparison of the audited election results and the initial tally for each machine audited, and an analysis of any detected discrepancies". However, there is no mention of actions to be taken should discrepancies be identified. See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (D).
While Virginia's audit law does specify a "risk-limiting audit" it does not specify the number of localities to be audited. "The localities selected for the audit shall be chosen at random with every locality participating in the Department’s annual audit at least once during a five-year period." See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (A).
Virginia's audit aw makes no mention of circumstances in which the audit would be expanded.
Virginia's audit law, as amended in 2017, does not specify which contests are to be audited.
Virginia's audit law, as amended in 2017, states that that the annual audit shall "of ballot scanner machines in use in the Commonwealth". Localities performing audits are chosen randomly as described above in"Audit Comprehensiveness". See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (A).
"The procedures established by the Department shall include its procedures for conducting hand counts of ballots." See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (A).
Oversight and Conduct of Audit: The State Board is directed to coordinate the audit. The audits "shall be performed by the local electoral boards and general registrars in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Department." See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (A) and (C).
Timeline for Audit: "No audit conducted pursuant to this election shall commence until after the election has been certified and the period to initiate a recount has expired without the initiation of a recount. An audit shall have no effect on the election results." See Va. Code Ann. §24.2, "Elections," Chapter 6, 671.1 (B).