BATAVIA, OHIO — The Clermont County Board of Elections has completed the post-election audit required by Ohio law following the May 5, 2026, Primary Election. The audit concluded with a 100 percent accuracy rate, independently confirming the integrity of both the election results and the rigorous processes and bipartisan personnel responsible for administering them. The results demonstrated that the votes recorded by the Board’s certified voting system precisely matched the hand-counted audit totals, affirming the veracity, accuracy, and professionalism embedded throughout every stage of the election process.
The process of testing the logic and accuracy (L&A) of all election equipment and processes, culminating in the post-election audit, began before any ballots were cast. Each board of elections is required to conduct L&A testing before every election on every single voting machine and each component of automatic tabulating equipment, including backup machines and equipment. Boards are prohibited from deploying any voting equipment that has not undergone L&A testing.
At the Board’s public meeting on April 22, election officials conducted a public test of the county’s DS850 central count tabulator. During the public test, a pre-marked deck of ballots with known vote totals was processed through the tabulator. The machine’s results were then compared to the predetermined totals to verify that the equipment accurately counted and recorded votes. The test demonstrated that the tabulator was functioning properly and accurately tabulating ballots.
The May 5, 2026, Primary Election was then conducted throughout Clermont County and the state of Ohio. Following Election Day, the Board convened on May 15 to open the official canvass of the election, in accordance with Ohio law.
The official canvass is a comprehensive review conducted after Election Day to verify the accuracy and completeness of the election results before they are certified. During this process, election officials reconcile ballot counts, review voting equipment reports, examine ballot accounting records, and ensure that all valid votes have been included in the final tally. The canvass commences following Ohio’s 4-day post-election cure period, during which voters may provide missing information necessary to validate certain ballots. Additionally, bipartisan teams review and adjudicate provisional ballots to determine voter eligibility and whether the ballot can be counted under Ohio law. Through these procedures, the official canvass provides an important layer of verification and transparency, helping ensure that certified election results accurately reflect the votes cast by Clermont County voters.
The Board subsequently met on May 20 to certify the official canvass of the Primary Election.
After certification of the official results, the Board met on May 27 to open the post-election audit. Precincts were selected at random for the post-election audit. The selected precincts represented at least five percent of the total ballots cast in the election. A total of 37,733 ballots were cast in the May 5 Primary Election. The randomly selected precincts accounted for 1,928 ballots, exceeding the minimum threshold required by law.
Once the audit was opened, bipartisan teams of Board of Elections employees manually reviewed and counted ballots from the selected precincts. Ohio law requires county boards of elections to audit contests in categories prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State. In addition to the contests selected by the Secretary of State, the Clermont County Board of Elections selected a third countywide contest for review.
The audit compares the hand-counted totals from the selected ballots against the results produced by the county’s certified voting system, while also verifying all documentation associated with the audited precincts, including chain-of-custody records, DS200 tabulator zero-total reports, and system security logs. This process serves as an independent verification that ballots were properly secured, votes were accurately recorded, and all results were correctly tabulated.
At a subsequent public meeting on June 5, the Board certified the results of the post-election audit. The audit found no discrepancies between the hand-counted ballots and the tabulated election results, resulting in a 100 percent accuracy rate.
Ohio’s post-election audit requirements are established in the Ohio Revised Code and administrative directives issued by the Ohio Secretary of State. The process is designed to provide an additional layer of transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the administration of elections.
“The successful completion of the post-election audit demonstrates the reliability of Clermont County’s election processes, equipment, and bipartisan procedures,” said Stephanie Hemmer-Haight, Director of the Clermont County Board of Elections. “The Board remains committed to maintaining sustained confidence in the fair, impartial, and accurate administration of every election.”
Board Chair Raymond W. Lembke, and Board Members Larry Heller, Gregg Conrad, and Tim Rudd, extend their sincere appreciation to the bipartisan election officials, full-time team members, and 495 precinct election officials who served at 50 polling locations throughout the county. Their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to public service — during a long Election Day that begins before dawn and ends well after the polls close — were instrumental in the successful administration of this, and every election. These individuals helped ensure the successful administration of the May 5, 2026 Primary Election and provided voters with a secure, accurate, and accessible voting experience.
The Board extends its sincere appreciation to the many community partners whose support contributes to the successful administration of elections in Clermont County. The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical personnel, Clermont County Emergency Management Agency, local police and fire departments, and the Clermont County Board of Commissioners all play important roles in ensuring election operations remain safe, secure, and accessible for voters.
Most importantly, the Board thanks the voters of Clermont County for their participation in the democratic process. Public confidence in elections is strengthened through voter engagement, and the Board remains committed to providing every eligible voter with the opportunity, unimpeded, to cast a ballot in a secure, accurate, and transparent election.
For additional information, contact the Clermont County Board of Elections at 513-732-7275 or visit the Board’s website.
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