What is a 1% Manual Tally?
1% manual tally is the public process of manually tallying votes in 1 percent of the precincts, selected at random by the elections officials, and in one precinct for each race not included in the randomly selected precincts. This procedure is conducted during the official canvass to verify the accuracy of the automated count.
How is a 1% Manual Tally conducted?
The procedure for conducting a 1% manual tally is provided under Election Code Section 15360.
Manual Tally Methods - During the official canvass of every election in which a voting system is used, the elections officials are required to conduct a public manual tally of the ballots tabulated by the voting system, including vote-by-mail ballots. The elections officials may use one of the following two methods to conduct the 1% manual tally:
One Part – In this method, the elections officials conducts a public manual tally of the ballots canvassed in the semifinal official canvass, including vote-by-mail ballots but not including provisional ballots, cast in 1 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the elections official. If 1 percent of the precincts is less than one whole precinct, the tally must be conducted in one precinct chosen at random by the elections officials. In addition, if all races in the election are not included in the initial group of precincts of the manual tally, the elections officials must count one additional precinct to include those race(s) that were not previously counted. The elections officials also has the discretion to select additional precincts for the manual tally, which may include vote-by-mail and provisional ballots.
Two-Part - In this method, the elections official conducts a public manual tally of the ballots canvassed in the semifinal official canvass, but does not include vote-by-mail ballots or provisional ballots, cast in 1 percent of the precincts chosen at random by the elections officials. Additionally, the elections officials must also manually tally not less than 1 percent of the vote-by-mail ballots canvassed in the semifinal official canvass. The elections officials must choose the batches of vote-by-mail ballots randomly. In addition, if all races in the election are not included in the initial 1% manual tally of the batches of vote by mail ballots, the elections officials must count one additional batch of vote-by-mail ballots to include those races (s) that were not previously counted. The elections officials also has the discretion to select additional batches for the manual tally, which may include vote-by-mail ballots and provisional ballots.
Random Selection – In both methods, the elections officials must use either a random number generator or other method specified in regulations adopted by the Secretary of State to randomly choose the initial precincts, batches of vote-by-mail ballots, or direct recording electronic voting machines subject to the public manual tally.
Timing of Selection - The elections officials must not randomly choose the initial precincts or select an additional precinct for the manual tally until after the close of the polls on election day.
Public Notice - The manual tally shall be a public process. The elections officials conducting the election must provide at least a five-day public notice of the time and place of the manual tally and of the time and place of the selection of the precincts, batches, or direct recording electronic voting machines subject to the public manual tally before conducting the selection and tally.
Reports of 1% Manual Tally – The elections officials conducting the election are required to report to the Secretary of State the results of the 1% manual tally conducted after each election. The manual tally report must be included in the certification of the official canvass of the vote. This report shall identify any discrepancies between the machine count and the manual tally and a description of how each of these discrepancies was resolved.
