Audit capacity

A requirement under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in elections for federal offices for a permanent record from which an election may be audited.

“Audit capacity.—

(A) In general. — The voting system shall produce a record with an audit capacity for such system.

(B) Manual audit capacity. —

(i) The voting system shall produce a permanent paper record with a manual audit capacity for such system.

(ii) The voting system shall provide the voter with an opportunity to change the ballot or correct any error before the permanent paper record is produced.

(iii) The paper record produced under subparagraph (A) shall be available as an official record for any recount conducted with respect to any election in which the system is used.” 42 U.S.C. §15481(a)(2).

Source: Electronic Voting Glossary, Michael I. Shamos, https://collaborate.nist.gov/voting/pub/Voting/Glossary/Shamos-Election-Glossary.pdf