Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Risk-limiting audits (RLAs) limit the "risk" of certifying that the wrong candidates won. There are RLA methods for almost every type of political election in the US, including plurality, multiwinner plurality, supermajority, and instant-runoff voting. The latest RLA methods make it practical to audit every contest in every election, even in large jurisdictions with hundreds of contests. RLAs can "tie a bow around" a well-run election that uses trustworthy, organized methods to record and store votes. They cannot magically make a poorly run election trustworthy any more than fastening your seatbelt after an accident will prevent injury. Applying RLA procedures to an untrustworthy vote record is "security theater" that does not limit the risk of certifying the wrong winners.
Risk-limiting audits (RLAs) limit the "risk" of certifying that the wrong candidates won. There are RLA methods for almost every type of political election in the US, including plurality, multiwinner plurality, supermajority, and instant-runoff voting. The latest RLA methods make it practical to audit every contest in every election, even in large jurisdictions with hundreds of contests. RLAs can "tie a bow around" a well-run election that uses trustworthy, organized methods to record and store votes. They cannot magically make a poorly run election trustworthy any more than fastening your seatbelt after an accident will prevent injury. Applying RLA procedures to an untrustworthy vote record is "security theater" that does not limit the risk of certifying the wrong winners.
