Fla. Stat. 101.591
Voting system audit


(1)

Immediately following the certification of each election, the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election shall conduct a manual audit or an automated, independent audit of the voting systems used in randomly selected precincts.

(2)(a)

A manual audit shall consist of a public manual tally of the votes cast in one randomly selected race that appears on the ballot. The tally sheet shall include election-day, vote-by-mail, early voting, provisional, and overseas ballots, in at least 1 percent but no more than 2 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election. If 1 percent of the precincts is less than one entire precinct, the audit shall be conducted using at least one precinct chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election. Such precincts shall be selected at a publicly noticed canvassing board meeting.An automated audit shall consist of a public automated tally of the votes cast across every race that appears on the ballot. The tally sheet shall include election day, vote-by-mail, early voting, provisional, and overseas ballots in at least 20 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election. Such precincts shall be selected at a publicly noticed canvassing board meeting.The division shall adopt rules for approval of an independent audit system which provide that the system, at a minimum, must be:
Completely independent of the primary voting system.
Fast enough to produce final audit results within the timeframe prescribed in subsection (4).
Capable of demonstrating that the ballots of record have been accurately adjudicated by the audit system.

(2)(a)

A manual audit shall consist of a public manual tally of the votes cast in one randomly selected race that appears on the ballot. The tally sheet shall include election-day, vote-by-mail, early voting, provisional, and overseas ballots, in at least 1 percent but no more than 2 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election. If 1 percent of the precincts is less than one entire precinct, the audit shall be conducted using at least one precinct chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election. Such precincts shall be selected at a publicly noticed canvassing board meeting.

(b)

An automated audit shall consist of a public automated tally of the votes cast across every race that appears on the ballot. The tally sheet shall include election day, vote-by-mail, early voting, provisional, and overseas ballots in at least 20 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election. Such precincts shall be selected at a publicly noticed canvassing board meeting.

(c)

The division shall adopt rules for approval of an independent audit system which provide that the system, at a minimum, must be:Completely independent of the primary voting system.Fast enough to produce final audit results within the timeframe prescribed in subsection (4).Capable of demonstrating that the ballots of record have been accurately adjudicated by the audit system.
1. Completely independent of the primary voting system.
2. Fast enough to produce final audit results within the timeframe prescribed in subsection (4).
3. Capable of demonstrating that the ballots of record have been accurately adjudicated by the audit system.

(3)

The canvassing board shall post a notice of the audit, including the date, time, and place, in four conspicuous places in the county and on the home page of the county supervisor of elections website.

(4)

The audit must be completed and the results made public no later than 11:59 p.m. on the 7th day following certification of the election by the county canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying the election.

(5)

By December 15 of each general election year, the county canvassing board or the board responsible for certifying the election shall provide a report with the results of the audit to the Department of State in a standard format as prescribed by the department. The report must be consolidated into one report with the overvote and undervote report required under s. 101.595(1). The report shall contain, but is not limited to, the following items:The overall accuracy of audit.A description of any problems or discrepancies encountered.The likely cause of such problems or discrepancies.Recommended corrective action with respect to avoiding or mitigating such circumstances in future elections.

(a)

The overall accuracy of audit.

(b)

A description of any problems or discrepancies encountered.

(c)

The likely cause of such problems or discrepancies.

(d)

Recommended corrective action with respect to avoiding or mitigating such circumstances in future elections.

(6)

If a manual recount is undertaken pursuant to s. 102.166, the canvassing board is not required to perform the audit provided for in this section.

Source: Section 101.591 — Voting system audit, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0101.­591 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

101.001
Precincts and polling places
101.002
Use of system by municipalities
101.015
Standards for voting systems
101.017
Bureau of Voting Systems Certification
101.019
Ranked-choice voting prohibited
101.20
Publication of ballot form
101.21
Official ballots
101.021
Elector to vote the primary ballot of the political party in which he or she is registered
101.23
Election inspector to keep list of those voting
101.24
Ballot boxes and ballots
101.031
Instructions for electors
101.34
Custody of voting system
101.041
Secret voting
101.43
Substitute ballot
101.043
Identification required at polls
101.045
Electors must be registered in precinct
101.048
Provisional ballots
101.49
Procedure of election officers where signatures differ
101.049
Provisional ballots
101.51
Electors to occupy booth alone
101.051
Electors seeking assistance in casting ballots
101.58
Supervising and observing registration and election processes
101.62
Request for vote-by-mail ballots
101.64
Delivery of vote-by-mail ballots
101.65
Instructions to absent electors
101.67
Safekeeping of mailed ballots
101.68
Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot
101.69
Voting in person
101.71
Polling place
101.74
Temporary change of polling place in case of emergency
101.75
Municipal elections
101.111
Voter challenges
101.131
Watchers at polls
101.151
Specifications for ballots
101.161
Referenda
101.171
Copy of constitutional amendment to be available at voting locations
101.252
Candidates entitled to have names printed on certain ballots
101.254
When nominated names to appear in groups or districts
101.292
Definitions
101.293
Competitive sealed bids and proposals required
101.294
Purchase and sale of voting equipment
101.295
Penalties for violation
101.341
Prohibited activities by voting system custodians and deputy custodians
101.545
Retention and destruction of certain election materials
101.572
Public inspection of ballots
101.591
Voting system audit
101.595
Analysis and reports of voting problems
101.655
Supervised voting by absent electors in certain facilities
101.657
Early voting
101.661
Voting vote-by-mail ballots
101.662
Accessibility of vote-by-mail ballots
101.663
Electors
101.665
Administration of oaths
101.694
Mailing of ballots upon receipt of federal postcard application
101.697
Electronic transmission of election materials
101.698
Absentee voting in emergency situations
101.715
Accessibility of polling places for people having a disability
101.731
Short title
101.732
Definitions relating to Elections Emergency Act
101.733
Election emergency
101.2512
Candidates’ names on general election ballots
101.2515
Translation of ballot language
101.5601
Short title
101.5602
Purpose
101.5603
Definitions relating to Electronic Voting Systems Act
101.5604
Adoption of system
101.5605
Examination and approval of equipment
101.5606
Requirements for approval of systems
101.5607
Department of State to maintain voting system information
101.5608
Voting by electronic or electromechanical method
101.5610
Inspection of ballot by election board
101.5611
Instructions to electors
101.5612
Testing of tabulating equipment
101.5613
Examination of equipment during voting
101.5614
Canvass of returns
101.5911
Rulemaking authority for voting system audit procedures
101.6101
Short title
101.6102
Mail ballot elections
101.6103
Mail ballot election procedure
101.6104
Challenge of votes
101.6105
Vote-by-mail voting
101.6106
Application of other election laws
101.6107
Department of State to adopt rules
101.6921
Delivery of special vote-by-mail ballot to certain first-time voters
101.6923
Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for certain first-time voters
101.6925
Canvassing special vote-by-mail ballots
101.6951
State write-in vote-by-mail ballot
101.6952
Vote-by-mail ballots for absent uniformed services and overseas voters
101.56042
Punch card type systems prohibited
101.56062
Standards for accessible voting systems
101.56063
Accessibility of voting systems and polling places
101.56064
Application for federal funds under ch. 2002-281
101.56065
Voting system defects
101.56075
Voting methods

Current through Fall 2025

§ 101.591. Voting system audit's source at flsenate​.gov