> They could go further by doing statistical risk limiting auditing for all elections

I doubt that would help with avoiding or correcting any damage.

Lets take the obvious scenario, someone does a blatant large scale steal of an election. (they get access to manufacturer, set up their own firmware to be updated on all voting machines)

Imagine the damage in that case.

Let's say you do detect and try to correct.

It's already too late. The winners will contest statistic analysis and say fake news then tie it and any recount up in lawsuits. (perhaps combined with arranging for some ballots to be destroyed in secondary storage so any recount would be contestable too)

They will assume power and it will be too late. (there is a time limit for recount and supreme court might decide to force usage of bad results)

Or they might be prevented from getting in power (how would that work, who would be leading?)

You will have revolts and unrest either way...

That sort of chaos would be exactly what a foreign power like Russia or China would want.

Punishing them would be impossible and they would have already won at this point, it wouldn't even matter who wins eventually.

Domestic actors might also view this as their only option to win and use it regardless... If they get in power it's game over, if they lose they might still be in a powerful position with lots of support.

So why not avoid the issue entirely and go paper ballots with independent observers.