Relating to: performing risk-limiting audits and eliminating the process for removing excess ballots from the vote count. (FE)

This bill would modify Wisconsin election procedures by replacing the current method of randomly discarding excess ballots with a system that documents discrepancies and incorporates them into risk-limiting audits. It directly affects election inspectors and canvassers who count ballots, as well as voters whose ballots might be affected by these counting procedures. The key provision eliminates the random removal of excess ballots and instead requires detailed documentation of ballot discrepancies, with audits investigating any discrepancies exceeding 0.5 percent of total ballots cast. The changes would take effect in phases, starting with selected contests in January 2026 and expanding to all elections by April 2027.