Overview

The Audit Teams comprise the individuals selected by the Election Superintendent to manually count the ballots during risk limiting audits. Every county is to perform a risk limiting audit on one race selected by the Secretary of State, with a risk limit of no greater than 10%. This audit must be performed prior to certification. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(1)1.

Election-Related Duties

The key duty of the Audit Team is to handle the ballots during an audit and confirm the voter’s selection on a ballot. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(2)4.

Selection and Vacancy Information

• Appointed: The Audit Team is appointed by the Election Superintendent. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(2)2.
• Makeup: The Audit Team is composed of “at least two sworn designees to assist with the audit.” However, they do not have to be employees of the Election Superintendent. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(2)2.
• Tiebreaking: It appears likely that the Election Superintendent fills this role. Rule 183-1-15.04 does not explicitly state that the Election Superintendent participates in the audit; however, it does strongly imply the Superintendent’s participation. If that is the case, the Election Superintendent would break a tie if the teams otherwise comprise two individuals. The evidence for this conclusion is as follows. First, the Audit Teams are designed “to assist [the election superintendent] with the audit.” Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(2)2. Second, the instruction that the “election superintendent shall follow instructions … on how to specifically conduct the audit,” supports the argument that the Election Superintendent plays an active, voting role in the process. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(2)7.
• Qualifications: Must be a United States citizen. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-78.
• Vacancy: Without a separate rule explicitly stating how vacancies on an Audit Team are to be handled, the most likely method would simply be to merge or split existing teams to mitigate the vacancy in order to ensure that each Audit Team has at least two sworn designees. If there are not enough designees, the Election Superintendent can also designate non-employees to assist with the audit process. See Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 183-1-15-.04(2)2.