MASS EMAIL (CEO): Post-Election Hand Count Audit for the November 3, 2026 General Election (Counties)

TO:  Texas Election Officials 

FROM:  Elections Division, Texas Secretary of State

SUBJECT: MASS EMAIL (CEO): Post-Election Hand Count Audit for the November 3, 2026 General Election (Counties)

DATE:  November 4, 2026

Dear County Election Officials,

NOTE: This mass email is for the Post-Election Hand Count Audit for counties.  A separate email with details on the Post-Election Hand Count Audit for cities, schools, and other political subdivisions will be sent out separately.

Our office has issued Advisory No. 2026-32: Post-Election Hand Count Audit After the November 3, 2026 General Election (Counties).

The Post-Election Hand Count Audit applies to all early voting by mail, early voting in person, and election day ballots.  Pursuant to Section 127.201(a) of the Texas Election Code, the General Custodian of Election records in an election in which an electronic voting system is used must conduct a Post-Election Hand Count Audit.

Post-Election Hand Count Audit Deadlines Extended Due to Risk-Limiting Audit

Please also note that the deadline to begin the Post-Election Hand Count Audit and the deadline to complete the Post-Election Hand Count Audit are extended for this election because this election will also involve a statewide Risk-Limiting Audit. 

The deadline to begin the Post-Election Hand Count Audit is extended to the day after the Secretary of State's Office has certified the completion of the Risk-Limiting Audit.

The deadline to complete the Post-Election Hand Count Audit is extended to the 30th day after election day (Thursday, December 3, 3026) or by a later deadline certified by our office after the Risk-Limiting Audit is completed.

The Risk-Limiting Audit is scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 19, 2026, and will continue until it is completed. Our office will provide additional information about the deadlines to begin and complete the Post-Election Hand Count Audit after the Risk-Limiting Audit is completed.

Selection of Offices

The Secretary of State’s office has selected the following offices for the partial manual count:

1. United States Senator;
2. Chief Justice, Supreme Court; and
3. One other contested race selected by the general custodian of election records.

Selection of Polling Locations and Precincts

For the November 3, 2026 General Election, the Secretary of State is required to select a minimum of three (3) election day polling locations and three (3) early voting polling locations or one percent (1%) of the election day polling locations and one percent (1%) of the early voting polling locations—whichever is greater—for the Post-Election Hand Count Audit. Tex. Elec. Code § 127.201(b).  In addition, a minimum of three (3) precincts or one percent (1%) of the precincts in which a ballot by mail was cast—whichever is greater—must be selected for the Post-Election Hand Count Audit.

These designated randomly selected election day polling locations, early voting polling locations, and ballot by mail precincts will be provided to the general custodian of election records in the spreadsheets that will be individually sent to each county via email.  We anticipate that each county will receive their spreadsheets via email within the next 24 hours.

The general custodian may select additional polling locations and ballot by mail precincts for the Post-Election Hand Count Audit using the procedures prescribed by the Secretary of State's Office in Election Advisory No. 2025-21.

Submission of Results

To submit your results, please follow the instructions outlined in the separate email that will be sent to your county within the next 24 hours.

Forms and Resources

The Secretary of State has issued a sample Notice of Post-Election Hand Count Audit which the General Custodian of Election Records may use to provide notice as required under Section 127.201 of the Texas Election Code.  Additional information and detailed procedures regarding the Post-Election Hand Count Audit are available in Election Advisory No. 2025-21 and the Post-Election Hand Count Audit Guide.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (800) 252-2216 or elections@sos.texas.gov.  

Thank you,

Elections Division

Office of the Texas Secretary of State

1019 Brazos Street | Rudder Building, 2nd Floor | Austin, Texas 78701

1.800.252.VOTE (8683)

elections@sos.texas.gov | www.sos.texas.gov

The information contained in this email is intended to provide advice and assistance in election matters per §31.004 of the Texas Election Code.  It is not intended to serve as a legal opinion for any matter.  Please review the law yourself, and consult with an attorney when your legal rights are involved.

If you have any questions regarding this e-mail, please e-mail elections@sos.texas.gov