The state’s inaugural post-election audit confirmed the accuracy of the June 28 primary election results, in response to a report issued Monday by the Oklahoma State Election Board.
Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax directed 33 county election boards to conduct handbook tabulation audits final week to look at a portion of the results in seven federal races, eight statewide races, three legislative contests, and a number of other county and judicial races.
“The post-election audit identified zero differences compared to the certified election results,” in response to the report.
These had been the first tabulation audits carried out beneath a legislation accredited by the Oklahoma Legislature in 2019. The law gave the state Election Board secretary the authority to direct county election boards to conduct post-election audits.
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The state Election Board initially deliberate to start out conducting post-election audits through the 2020 election cycle, however the growth of insurance policies and procedures to information the method was delayed through the pandemic.
“Post-election audits add an additional layer of transparency and security to Oklahoma elections and election officials are thankful that the State Legislature enacted a law to allow them,” Ziriax stated in a news launch. “Oklahoma has one of the most accurate and secure voting systems in the entire world. These post-election audits and the three recounts that followed the June 28 Primary Elections are the latest in a long line of evidence of that.”
Election integrity has been a scorching subject on the state Capitol following the 2020 presidential election.
Spurred by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread election fraud, a number of GOP state lawmakers have sought a forensic or impartial audit of the 2020 election results. State legislation would not permit for audits performed by non-elections officers.
Oklahoma is certainly one of 34 states that requires some kind of post-election audit, in response to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The audit checked out Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senate races, most congressional races, the governor’s race and extra election contests down the poll. All advised, 36 completely different races had been examined.
Tulsa, Cleveland, Canadian and Lincoln counties had been amongst those who had been audited. The counties, precincts and races had been all randomly chosen.
The audit checked out a fraction of mail-in and early voting ballots in addition to these votes solid on Election Day.
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The report notes the audit turned up two minor procedural points.
In Osage County, the audit discovered one provisional poll was incorrectly counted as a vote solid on Election Day, somewhat than an in-person absentee vote. In Caddo County, one spoiled poll was put within the mistaken place. Election staff within the county will obtain refresher coaching on tips on how to deal with spoiled ballots, in response to the report.
The state Election Board is more likely to conduct post-election audits after the Aug. 23 runoff primary and the Nov. 8 basic election, stated Misha Mohr, spokeswoman for the company.
The state Election Board on Monday additionally launched the order wherein political events will seem on the November poll.
A public drawing decided Libertarian candidates might be given prime billing for the overall election, adopted by Republican candidates after which Democrats. Independent candidates might be listed beneath candidates from the state’s three acknowledged political events.
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