SB1270 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 24957 AWJ 51291 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1270

Introduced 2/3/2023, by Sen. Sally J. Turner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Election Code. In provisions requiring election authorities to automatically register a voter, requires the election authority to act within 90 days of receipt of information from the National Change of Address database. Requires county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to complete verifications of voter registrations after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day of candidate circulation for candidate filing for the following primary election in an even-numbered year (rather than at least once in every 2 years). Requires the county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to certify to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed within 30 days of completion of the verification. Requires the State Board of Elections to establish training materials and guidelines for judges of elections to be incorporated into the training course established by an election authority. Requires an election authority with a public website to ensure that its vote by mail processing procedures are published on its public website and accessible to the public no less than 120 days before a general election, a general primary election, or a consolidated election. Provides that vote by mail ballots received after the election are subject to audit by the State Board of Elections and provides the auditing guidelines. Provides that the State central committee chair of each established political party shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the random selection procedure and may be represented at the procedure. Provides that if tally sheets to be delivered to the office of the county clerk by judges of elections are delayed more than 5 hours after the closing of the polls, the designated judges from each of the 2 major political parties shall subscribe to a written affidavit explaining the delay. Requires the county clerk to keep any affidavits for one year and allows certified copies to be used as evidence in all courts, proceedings, and election contests. Requires the affidavits to also appear on an election authority's post on its website along with the number of uncounted votes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 1-9.2, 1A-8, 1A-16.8, 4-30, 5-25, 6-59, 13-2.1, 13-2.2, 14-4.1, and 17-22 and by adding Sections 19-2.7 and 19-8.5 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-9.2)

Sec. 1-9.2. Uncounted ballot information on website. No later than 48 hours after the closing of polling locations on election day, each election authority maintaining a website shall post the number of ballots that remain uncounted. The posting shall separate the number of ballots yet to be counted into the following categories: ballots cast on election day, early voting ballots, provisional ballots, vote by mail ballots received by the election authority but not counted, and vote by mail ballots sent by the election authority but have not been returned to the election authority. The posting shall also include any election judge affidavits provided for in Section 17-22. This information shall be updated on the website of the election authority each day until the period for counting provisional and vote by mail ballots has ended. All election authorities, regardless of whether they maintain a website, shall share the same information, separated in the same manner, with the State Board of Elections no later than 48 hours after the closing of polling locations on election day and each business day thereafter until the period for counting provisional and vote by mail ballots has ended.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 1A-8)

Sec. 1A-8. The State Board of Elections shall exercise the following powers and perform the following duties in addition to any powers or duties otherwise provided for by law:

(1) Assume all duties and responsibilities of the State Electoral Board and the Secretary of State as heretofore provided in this Code;

(2) Disseminate information to and consult with election authorities concerning the conduct of elections and registration in accordance with the laws of this State and the laws of the United States;

(3) Furnish to each election authority prior to each primary and general election and any other election it deems necessary, a manual of uniform instructions consistent with the provisions of this Code which shall be used by election authorities in the preparation of the official manual of instruction to be used by the judges of election in any such election. In preparing such manual, the State Board shall consult with representatives of the election authorities throughout the State. The State Board may provide separate portions of the uniform instructions applicable to different election jurisdictions which administer elections under different options provided by law. The State Board may by regulation require particular portions of the uniform instructions to be included in any official manual of instructions published by election authorities. Any manual of instructions published by any election authority shall be identical with the manual of uniform instructions issued by the Board, but may be adapted by the election authority to accommodate special or unusual local election problems, provided that all manuals published by election authorities must be consistent with the provisions of this Code in all respects and must receive the approval of the State Board of Elections prior to publication; provided further that if the State Board does not approve or disapprove of a proposed manual within 60 days of its submission, the manual shall be deemed approved; .

(4) Prescribe and require the use of such uniform forms, notices, and other supplies not inconsistent with the provisions of this Code as it shall deem advisable which shall be used by election authorities in the conduct of elections and registrations;

(5) Prepare and certify the form of ballot for any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Illinois, or any referendum to be submitted to the electors throughout the State or, when required to do so by law, to the voters of any area or unit of local government of the State;

(6) Require such statistical reports regarding the conduct of elections and registration from election authorities as may be deemed necessary;

(7) Review and inspect procedures and records relating to conduct of elections and registration as may be deemed necessary, and to report violations of election laws to the appropriate State's Attorney or the Attorney General;

(8) Recommend to the General Assembly legislation to improve the administration of elections and registration;

(9) Adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations in the performance of its duties provided that all such rules and regulations must be consistent with the provisions of this Article 1A or issued pursuant to authority otherwise provided by law;

(10) Determine the validity and sufficiency of petitions filed under Article XIV, Section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970;

(11) Maintain in its principal office a research library that includes, but is not limited to, abstracts of votes by precinct for general primary elections and general elections, current precinct maps and current precinct poll lists from all election jurisdictions within the State. The research library shall be open to the public during regular business hours. Such abstracts, maps and lists shall be preserved as permanent records and shall be available for examination and copying at a reasonable cost;

(12) Supervise the administration of the registration and election laws throughout the State;

(13) Obtain from the Department of Central Management Services, under Section 405-250 of the Department of Central Management Services Law (20 ILCS 405/405-250), such use of electronic data processing equipment as may be required to perform the duties of the State Board of Elections and to provide election-related information to candidates, public and party officials, interested civic organizations and the general public in a timely and efficient manner;

(14) To take such action as may be necessary or required to give effect to directions of the national committee or State central committee of an established political party under Sections 7-8, 7-11, and 7-14.1 or such other provisions as may be applicable pertaining to the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to an established political party's national nominating conventions or, notwithstanding any candidate certification schedule contained within this Code, the certification of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate selected by the established political party's national nominating convention;

(15) To post all early voting sites separated by election authority and hours of operation on its website at least 5 business days before the period for early voting begins;

(16) To post on its website the statewide totals, and totals separated by each election authority, for each of the counts received pursuant to Section 1-9.2; and

(17) To post on its website, in a downloadable format, the information received from each election authority under Section 1-17; and .

(18) To establish training materials and guidelines for judges of elections.

The Board may by regulation delegate any of its duties or functions under this Article, except that final determinations and orders under this Article shall be issued only by the Board.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-623, eff. 7-20-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.8)

Sec. 1A-16.8. Automatic transfer of registration based upon information from the National Change of Address database and designated automatic voter registration agencies.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall cross-reference the statewide voter registration database against the United States Postal Service's National Change of Address database twice each calendar year, April 15 and October 1 in odd-numbered years and April 15 and December 1 in even-numbered years or with the same frequency as in subsection (b) of this Section, and shall share the findings with the election authorities.

(b) In addition, beginning no later than September 1, 2017, the State Board of Elections shall utilize data provided as part of its membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center in order to cross-reference the statewide voter registration database against databases of relevant personal information kept by designated automatic voter registration agencies, including, but not limited to, driver's license information kept by the Secretary of State, at least 6 times each calendar year and shall share the findings with election authorities.

This subsection (b) shall no longer apply once Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2 of this Code are fully implemented as determined by the State Board of Elections. Upon a determination by the State Board of Elections of full implementation of Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2 of this Code, the State Board of Elections shall file notice of full implementation and the inapplicability of this subsection (b) with the Index Department of the Office of the Secretary of State, the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau.

(b-5) The State Board of Elections shall not be required to share any data on any voter attained using the National Change of Address database under subsection (a) of this Section if that voter has a more recent government transaction indicated using the cross-reference under subsection (b) of this Section. If there is contradictory or unclear data between data obtained under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, then data obtained under subsection (b) of this Section shall take priority.

(c) Within 90 days of receipt of information from the National Change of Address database, an An election authority shall automatically register any voter who has moved into its jurisdiction from another jurisdiction in Illinois or has moved within its jurisdiction provided that:

(1) the election authority whose jurisdiction includes the new registration address provides the voter an opportunity to reject the change in registration address through a mailing, sent by non-forwardable mail, to the new registration address, and

(2) when the election authority whose jurisdiction includes the previous registration address is a different election authority, then that election authority provides the same opportunity through a mailing, sent by forwardable mail, to the previous registration address.

This change in registration shall trigger the same inter-jurisdictional or intra-jurisdictional workflows as if the voter completed a new registration card, including the cancellation of the voter's previous registration. Should the registration of a voter be changed from one address to another within the State and should the voter appear at the polls and offer to vote from the prior registration address, attesting that the prior registration address is the true current address, the voter, if confirmed by the election authority as having been registered at the prior registration address and canceled only by the process authorized by this Section, shall be issued a regular ballot, and the change of registration address shall be canceled. If the election authority is unable to immediately confirm the registration, the voter shall be permitted to register and vote a regular ballot, provided that he or she meets the documentary requirements for same-day registration. If the election authority is unable to confirm the registration and the voter does not meet the requirements for same-day registration, the voter shall be issued a provisional ballot.

(d) No voter shall be disqualified from voting due to an error relating to an update of registration under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-522, eff. 6-30-16; 100-464, eff. 8-28-17.)

(10 ILCS 5/4-30) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-30)

Sec. 4-30. The county clerk on his own initiative or upon order of the county board shall at all times have authority to conduct investigation and to make canvasses of the registered voters in any precinct canvass or at other times and by other methods than those so prescribed. However, the county clerk shall at least once in every 2 years conduct a verification of voter registrations and shall cause the cancellation of registration of persons who have ceased to be qualified voters. The verification shall be conducted and completed after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day of candidate circulation for candidate filing for the following primary election in an even-numbered year. Such verification shall be accomplished by one of the following methods: (1) precinct canvass conducted by 2 qualified persons of opposite party affiliation appointed by the county clerk or (2) written request for verification sent to each registered voter by first class mail, not forwardable or (3) an alternative method of verification submitted in writing to and approved by the State Board of Elections at a public meeting not less than 60 days prior to the date on which the county clerk has fixed for implementation of that method of verification; provided, that the county clerk shall certify submit to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed and include a written statement of the results obtained by use of such alternative method within 30 days of completion of the verification. Provided that in each precinct one canvasser may be appointed from outside such precinct if not enough other qualified persons who reside within the precinct can be found to serve as canvasser in such precinct. The one canvasser so appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote prior to the election must be entitled to vote elsewhere within the ward, township or road district which includes within its boundaries the precinct in which such canvasser is appointed and such canvasser must be otherwise qualified. If upon the basis of investigation or canvasses, the county clerk shall be of the opinion that any person registered under this Article is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter, he shall send a notice through the United States mail to such person, requiring him to appear before the county clerk for a hearing within ten days after the date of mailing such notice and show cause why his registration shall not be cancelled. If such person fails to appear within such time as provided, his registration shall be cancelled. If such a person does appear, he shall make an affidavit similar in every respect to the affidavit required of applicants under Section 4-13 and his registration shall be reinstated.

If the county clerk cancels such registration upon the voter failing to appear, the county clerk shall immediately request of the clerk of the city, village or incorporated town in which the person claimed residence, to return the triplicate card of registration of the said person and within twenty-four hours after receipt of said request, the said clerk shall mail or cause to be delivered to the county clerk the triplicate card of registration of the said person and the said triplicate card shall thereupon be cancelled by the county clerk.

(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

(10 ILCS 5/5-25) (from Ch. 46, par. 5-25)

Sec. 5-25. The county clerk on his own initiative or upon order of the board of county commissioners shall at all times have authority to conduct investigation and to make canvasses of the registered voters in any precinct canvass or at other times and by other methods than those so prescribed. However, the county clerk shall conduct a verification of voter registrations at least once in every 2 years, and shall cause the cancellation of registration of persons who have ceased to be qualified voters. The verification shall be conducted and completed after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day of candidate circulation for candidate filing for the following primary election in an even-numbered year. Such verification shall be accomplished by one of the following methods: (1) precinct canvass conducted by 2 qualified persons of opposite party affiliation appointed by the county clerk or (2) written request for verification sent to each registered voter by first class mail, not forwardable or (3) an alternative method of verification submitted in writing to and approved by the State Board of Elections at a public meeting not less than 60 days prior to the date which the county clerk has fixed for implementation of that method of verification; provided, that the county clerk shall certify submit to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed and include a written statement of the results obtained by use of such alternative method within 30 days of completion of the verification. In each precinct one canvasser may be appointed from outside such precinct if not enough other qualified persons who reside within the precinct can be found to serve as canvasser in such precinct. The one canvasser so appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote prior to the election must be entitled to vote elsewhere within the ward or township which includes within its boundaries the precinct in which such canvasser is appointed and such canvasser must be otherwise qualified. If upon the basis of investigation or canvasses, the county clerk shall be of the opinion that any person registered under this Article 5 is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter, he shall send a notice through the United States mail to such person, requiring him to appear before the county clerk for a hearing within ten days after the date of mailing such notice and show cause why his registration shall not be cancelled. If such person fails to appear within such time as provided, his registration shall be cancelled. If such a person does appear, he shall make an affidavit similar in every respect to the affidavit required of applicants under Section 5-16 of this Article 5.

(Source: P.A. 81-1535.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-59) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-59)

Sec. 6-59. The Board of Election Commissioners on its own initiative, or upon order of the circuit court, shall at all times have authority to conduct investigations and to make canvasses of the registered voters in any precinct or precincts within its jurisdiction either by the methods provided in this Article or at other times and by other methods than those prescribed herein. However, the Board of Election Commissioners shall, at least once in every 2 years, conduct a verification of voter registrations and shall cause the cancellation of registration of persons who have ceased to be qualified voters. The verification shall be conducted and completed after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day of candidate circulation for candidate filing for the following primary election in an even-numbered year. Such verification shall be accomplished by one of the following methods: (1) precinct canvass conducted by 2 qualified persons of opposite party affiliation appointed by the Board of Election Commissioners or (2) written request sent to each registered voter by first class mail, not forwardable or (3) an alternative method of verification submitted in writing to and approved by The State Board of Elections at a public meeting not less than 60 days prior to the date on which the Board of Election Commissioners has fixed for implementation of that method of verification; provided, said Board shall certify submit to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed and include a written statement of the results obtained by use of such alternative method within 30 days of the completion of the verification. If, upon the basis of investigations or canvasses, the board shall be of the opinion that any person registered under this Article is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter, it shall send a notice through the United States mail to such person, requiring him to appear before such board at a time specified in such notice, not less than 10 nor more than 30 days after the mailing of such notice and show cause why his registration should not be cancelled. If such a person does not appear, his registration shall be cancelled. If such a person does appear he shall make an affidavit and shall be heard in the manner provided by Section 6-45 of this Article, and if his registration is cancelled as a result of such a hearing, he shall be entitled to a hearing in the circuit court and to an appeal to the Supreme Court in the manner provided by Section 6-52 of this Article.

Whenever the Board of Election Commissioners acting under authority of this section conducts a canvass of the registered voters in any precinct or precincts and the board designates canvassers to conduct the canvass, the board shall appoint as canvassers persons affiliated with the leading political parties in like manner as judges of election are appointed under the provisions of Section 14-4 of this Act; provided that in each precinct in counties of 500,000 inhabitants or more, one canvasser may be appointed from outside such precinct if not enough other qualified persons who reside within the precinct can be found to serve as canvasser in such precinct. The one canvasser so appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote prior to the election must be entitled to vote elsewhere within the ward or township which includes within its boundaries the precinct in which such canvasser is appointed and such canvasser must be otherwise qualified.

The canvassers, so appointed by virtue of this section, shall comply with the provisions of Sections 6-40 and 6-41 relative to the mailing and leaving of notices at the addresses of persons whose right to vote in the precinct or precincts is questioned.

(Source: P.A. 81-1433.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-2.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-2.1)

Sec. 13-2.1. In each county the County Clerk shall establish a training course for judges of elections not subject to Article 14 of this Act. The curriculum of such course shall incorporate training materials and guidelines provided by the State Board of Elections and be approved by the County Clerk. A suitable certificate shall be issued by the County Clerk to each student upon his satisfactory completion of the course.

Such course may be established jointly with a course in the county established as provided in Section 14-4.1 of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3399.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-2.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-2.2)

Sec. 13-2.2. Such course shall be devised so as to instruct its students in the duties of an election judge and shall include, at a minimum, the duties concerning voter verification, campaign-free zones, electioneering, vote by mail processing, provisional voting, and ballot handling and processing. The course and shall consist of at least 4 hours of instruction and an examination which tests reading skills, ability to work with poll lists, ability to add and knowledge of election laws governing the operation of polling places.

Such course shall be conducted at least once after the day the report of the selection of election judges is filed in the circuit court, but before the day fixed by the court for confirmation of such selection, and once as soon as practicable after the day fixed by the court for such confirmation. Every person reported as selected to be an election judge shall be notified in good time of the place and time each such course is to be conducted. All such persons may attend such course and, upon satisfactory completion thereof, shall be entitled to a certificate of such completion.

Not later than March 1, 1981 the election authorities shall also conduct special training courses for election judges concerning the administration of the nonpartisan and consolidated elections. The State shall reimburse each county and each municipality under the jurisdiction of a board of election commissioners (except in municipalities with a population of more than 500,000) for the payment of a $10 stipend to each judge of election for attendance at such special training course.

(Source: P.A. 81-1535.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-4.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-4.1)

Sec. 14-4.1. The Board of Election Commissioners shall establish a training course for judges of election. The training course shall incorporate training materials and guidelines provided by the State Board of Elections. The curriculum of such course shall be approved by the Board. A suitable certificate shall be issued by the Board to each student upon his satisfactory completion of the course.

Such course may be established jointly with a course in the county established as provided in Section 13-2.1 of this Act.

Such course shall be conducted in the manner provided by Section 13-2.2 of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3399.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-22) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-22)

Sec. 17-22. The judges of election shall make the tally sheet and certificate of results in triplicate. If, however, the number of established political parties, as defined in Section 10-2, exceeds 2, one additional copy shall be made for each established political party in excess of 2. One list of voters, or other proper return with such certificate written thereon, and accompanying tally sheet footed up so as to show the correct number of votes cast for each person voted for, shall be carefully enveloped and sealed up by the judges of election, 2 of whom (one from each of the 2 major political parties) shall immediately deliver same to the county clerk, or his deputy, at the office of the county clerk, or to an officially designated receiving station established by the county clerk where a duly authorized representative of the county clerk shall receive said envelopes for immediate transmission to the office of county clerk, who shall safely keep them. If the delivery of these tally sheets to the office of the county clerk is delayed more than 5 hours after the closing of the polls, the 2 designated judges (one from each of the 2 major political parties) shall subscribe to a written affidavit explaining the delay. This affidavit shall be delivered, along with the tally sheets, to the office of the county clerk, who shall make it available to the general public on its public website. The other certificates of results and accompanying tally sheet shall be carefully enveloped and sealed up and duly directed, respectively, to the chair of the county central committee of each then existing established political party, and by another of the judges of election deposited immediately in the nearest United States letter deposit. However, if any county chair notifies the county clerk not later than 10 days before the election of his desire to receive the envelope addressed to him at the point and at the time same are delivered to the county clerk, his deputy or receiving station designee the envelopes shall be delivered to such county chair or his designee immediately upon receipt thereof by the county clerk, his deputy or his receiving station designee. The person or persons so designated by a county chair shall sign an official receipt acknowledging receipt of said envelopes. The poll book, and tally list, and affidavits filed with the county clerk shall be kept one year, and certified copies thereof shall be evidence in all courts, proceedings and election contests. Before the returns are sealed up, as aforesaid, the judges shall compare the tally papers, footings and certificates and see that they are correct and duplicates of each other, and certify to the correctness of the same.

At the consolidated election, the judges of election shall make a tally sheet and certificate of results for each political subdivision for which candidates or public questions are on the ballot at such election, and shall sign, seal in a marked envelope and deliver them to the county clerk with the other certificates of results herein required. Such tally sheets and certificates of results may be duplicates of the tally sheet and certificate of results otherwise required by this Section, showing all votes for all candidates and public questions voted for or upon in the precinct, or may be on separate forms prepared by the election authority and showing only those votes cast for candidates and public questions of each such political subdivision.

Within 2 days of delivery of complete returns of the consolidated election, the county clerk shall transmit an original, sealed tally sheet and certificate of results from each precinct in his jurisdiction in which candidates or public questions of a political subdivision were on the ballot to the local election official of such political subdivision. Each local election official, within 24 hours of receipt of all of the tally sheets and certificates of results for all precincts in which candidates or public questions of his political subdivision were on the ballot, shall transmit such sealed tally sheets and certificates of results to the canvassing board for that political subdivision.

In the case of referenda for the formation of a political subdivision, the tally sheets and certificates of results shall be transmitted by the county clerk to the circuit court that ordered the proposition submitted or to the officials designated by the court to conduct the canvass of votes. In the case of school referenda for which a regional superintendent of schools is responsible for the canvass of votes, the county clerk shall transmit the tally sheets and certificates of results to the regional superintendent of schools.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

Only judges appointed under the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 13-4 or subsection (b) of Section 14-1 may make any delivery required by this Section from judges of election to a county clerk, or his or her deputy, at the office of the county clerk or to a county clerk's duly authorized representative at the county clerk's officially designated receiving station.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-2.7 new)

Sec. 19-2.7. Processing procedures. No less than 120 days before a general election, a general primary election, or a consolidated election, an election authority with a public website shall ensure that its vote by mail processing procedures are published on its public website and accessible to the public.

(10 ILCS 5/19-8.5 new)

Sec. 19-8.5. Audit of vote by mail ballots arriving after election day. Vote by mail ballots received after the election are subject to audit by the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall audit 5% of election authorities, verifying that they are complying with the requirements contained in Section 1-9 and this Article for processing vote by mail ballots received after the close of the polls on election day. The State Board of Elections may, by rule, establish audit procedures and the percentage of such ballots to be audited. In determining the required percentage, the State Board of Elections may consider the size of the election authority and the number of vote by mail ballots received by the election authority after the close of polls. The audit shall include, but not be limited to, the election authority's handling and processing procedures for vote by mail applications, vote by mail certification envelopes, and exterior vote by mail return envelopes for ballets returned after the close of the polls on election day. The State Board of Elections shall design a standard and scientific random method of selecting the election authorities that are to be audited so that every voting authority has an equal mathematical chance of being selected. The State central committee chair of each established political party shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the random selection procedure and may be represented at the procedure.