District of Columbia

Status of Audit Legislation: 
D.C.'s audit legislation became effective February 4, 2010.
Link to Text of Legislation: 
D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.09a
Notes: 

State Summary D.C.'s audit legislation was signed into law in as part of the “Omnibus Election Reform Amendment Act of 2009,”and became effective in 2010. Audits are binding on official results but do not lead to a full recount. Note: The website hosting the District of Columbia's Official Code does not allow for us to link to individual statutes or sections. The index for and links to this and other statutes in the Code can be found at: http://government.westlaw.com/linkedslice/default.asp?SP=DCC-1000. Additional manual audit procedures are contained in the D.C. Municipal Regulations, Title 3, Chapter 8, “Tabulation and Certification of Election Results” (available at http://www.dcregs.org/Gateway/ChapterHome.aspx?ChapterNumber=3-8). All citations below, unless otherwise noted, are to the DC Code, Section 1-1001.09a, 'Post-election audits.”

Sampling Method: 

Fixed percentage

After each election in which a precinct-level vote-tabulation machine is used, the Board of Elections and Ethics conducts a public manual (hand-count) audit of the paper ballots tabulated by at least 5% of the precincts during the election and 5% of the ballots tabulated centrally.

Trigger: 

Does not have a trigger

Oversight: 
Board of Elections and Ethics
Who Conducts the Audit?: 
The Board of Election and Ethics conducts audits for D.C.
Types of Voting Machines in Use: 
Mixed paper ballot and DREs with VVPAT
Races that are Audited: 
The precincts that are audited are selected randomly, but always include at least one District-wide contest and at least two ward-wide contests.
Voting Units that are Audited: 
Precincts
Timeline for Audit: 

The only timing requirement for audits stated in the D.C. Code is that they be conducted after the election.

Completed Before Certification?: 

The audit is completed before certification.

Absentees, Provisionals and Early Voting: 
If the initial audit uncovers discrepancies, a second audit is to be conducted that includes absentee ballots. See Rule 812.16.
Recounts: 
Yes
Do the results of the audit become the official tally?: 
Yes
Is the Audit Publicly Observable?: 
Yes
Additional Resources: 
DC Official Code - Title 1 - Chapter 10 - Elections
Searchable DC Code
DC Elections