This blog was written by Sam Streukens and Mark Halvorson of the LWV of Minnesota

Election observers are people who observe various steps in the election process. In doing so, members of the public can provide independent verification of election results’ accuracy and counter attempts to discredit elections.

By volunteering as an observer, you can make a difference by creating a public record of how votes are counted, leading to increased trust in election outcomes.

Which Election Processes Can People Observe?

The exact rules around who can become an observer and what they’d do in that role vary state by state. Two key election procedures, the Logic and Accuracy Test and the post-election audit, are open to the public to observe in most states. 

One way local election officials ensure that election equipment is functioning properly is through a Logic and Accuracy Test (L&A). (referred to as a “Public Accuracy Test” in Minnesota). These tests are often viewable by the public, candidates, and the media, and give election officials the opportunity to demonstrate election security procedures and instill confidence in voting systems. L&A tests ensure all equipment functions as expected and accurately counts votes as marked. Kentucky, Hawaii, and Nevada impose restrictions on who can observe the L&A tests. Check with your local elections official to see how you might view the L&A test. 

Find Your Election Info at VOTE411.org

Nearly all states conduct post-election audits, where county election officials hand-count randomly selected paper ballots and compare the results to the voting machine totals. This election safeguard provides “solid evidence for the initial election outcome when it is correct – and an opportunity to correct the outcome when it is not.” In addition, robust audits can deter hacking, malware, and fraud.

Case Study: Training Election Observers in Minnesota

In Minnesota, our audit is referred to as the Post-Election Review (PER), and it began in 2006. Party-balanced election judges hand-count the ballots for US President, US Senator, US Representative, and Governor in randomly selected precincts. 

Citizens For Election Integrity Minnesota (CEIMN) organized the first statewide effort to coordinate and train nonpartisan audit observers. In 2024, LWV Minnesota officially took over this program from CEIMN and trained over 150 nonpartisan observers in 43 of 87 MN counties.

This was an incredibly valuable program. Volunteers “gained a deeper understanding of Minnesota’s transparent election process and provided a factual record of its accuracy.” Furthermore, understanding how our elections are certified helps to dispel mis- and disinformation and reminds voters how they can participate in the process. In Minnesota, our election safeguards are built on a transparent system of bipartisan laws and protocols that can address discrepancies. 

LWVMN observers shared their positive experience participating in this process:

• "If everyone could see this process, there would be no question about the validity of our election results."
• “I appreciated the collaborative attitude of the judges and election officials. It was well worth our time to observe.”
• “The election officials thanked us several times, were courteous at all times and appreciated us being there. I enjoyed learning about the process.”
• “It was not only that the counted ballots matched the machine count for both precincts, but that MN state rules for the handling of ballots and the count itself were clear and were followed exactly.”

You can learn more about your state’s audit laws here. Most audits are held one to two weeks after the election and take anywhere from a few hours to a full day.

Get Involved in Your State

Election observation is a great way for everyday people to get involved in civic life! Recruiting observers or volunteering yourself builds trust in election outcomes and provides opportunities to strengthen election administration.

If you are interested in observing the L&A test and/or the post-election audit in your state, we encourage you to work with your state or local League. 

If you would like the election observation resources used by LWVMN, which include questionnaires and a code of conduct, please info [at] lwvmn.org (reach out to LWVMN staff).