Which item ensures a physical ballot is available for auditing?

• A. Hard money
• B. Risk-limiting audit
• C. Ballot design error
• D. Paper ballot

Answer: (D)

Having a tangible record that can be inspected is essential for verifying election results. A paper ballot provides that physical artifact, allowing officials to preserve ballots, recount them if needed, and compare them to electronic tallies during an audit. This verifiable paper trail is what makes audits meaningful and trustworthy.

The other options don’t supply this physical record: hard money is about campaign financing, not ballots; a risk-limiting audit is a method that uses ballots to check results but doesn’t itself ensure that a physical ballot exists; and a ballot design error highlights a flaw in how a ballot is laid out, not the presence of a physical ballot for auditing. Therefore, the item that ensures a physical ballot is available for auditing is the paper ballot.