SB 394 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RISK-LIMITING AUDITS WORKING GROUP.

This bill requires election officials to conduct risk-limiting audits of state election results within 15 days after voting but before the official vote canvass. It mandates randomly selected audits for all state offices, at least one congressional seat, and 5% of state legislative seats (selected by the Secretary of State), with a maximum 5% risk limit to verify results. If an audit is inconclusive, it triggers a full manual recount of all ballots for that race. All audit processes must be public, and results can be used in election challenges, while preserving paper ballots for verification.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 2, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026

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What changed between versions

Raised Bill → GAE Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' after favorable committee consideration. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new subsection (C) that excludes offices subject to specific recanvass procedures (sections 9-311a or 9-311b) or uncontested elections from the mandatory risk-limiting audit. Additionally, the text clarifying when recanvasses must be included in the audit was updated to explicitly exclude those same specific recanvass types.

Scope change

The scope of the risk-limiting audit requirement was narrowed by adding exemptions for certain uncontested elections and specific types of recanvasses.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement (subsection C) to exclude offices from the audit if they are subject to specific recanvass procedures under sections 9-311a or 9-311b, or if the office was elected without opposition.

Updated the rule for including contested offices in the audit to explicitly exclude those subject to sections 9-311a or 9-311b recanvasses.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the new audit requirements from 'from passage' to a fixed date of January 1, 2027.

SCOPE

Changed the bill status from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' reflecting its progression through the legislative process.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO COMMITTEE

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors