Election Recounts

Elections

Introduction

Recounts are conducted after an election either automatically when the margin of victory for a race was narrow, or because someone (usually the losing candidate or their party) asks for a recount.

The laws governing recounts vary by state. In 24 states and Washington, D.C., recounts are automatically triggered if results are within a certain margin. In 41 states and Washington, D.C., a recount can be requested. In states that do not offer a recount process, a defeated candidate’s only remedy is to contest the result of the election in court, and recounts may be ordered by a court.

Automatic Recounts

Twenty-four states and Washington, D.C., provide for automatic or mandatory recounts, which are conducted if the margin between the top two candidates is within certain parameters. The threshold to trigger an automatic recount ranges from a margin of 1% to only in the case of a tie vote. The most common trigger is 0.5%.

The table below provides details on thresholds to trigger an automatic recount, deadlines for completion (if available) and relevant statutes.

Automatic Recounts
State	Automatic Recount Trigger	Deadline for Completion
Alabama Ala. Code § 17-16-20	Less than 0.5% of the votes cast for the office or the ballot measure.	N/A
Alaska AS § 15.15.460, 480	Tie vote.	Within 10 days after the recount begins.
Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-661	Less than or equal to 0.5% of the votes cast for both candidates or on a ballot measure.	N/A
Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-10.5-101, § 1-10.5-102(2), 103	Less than or equal to 0.5% of the highest vote cast in that election contest.	By the 31st day after the election.
Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-311a, 311b	Less than 0.5% of the total votes cast for the office but not more than 2,000 votes, or less than 20 votes. A recount is automatic in the event of a tied vote as well.	N/A
Delaware Del. Code tit.15 § 5702(e)	Less than 1,000 votes or 0.5% of all votes cast for the two candidates, whichever is less (applies only to elections of state legislators and county offices).	N/A
District of Columbia D.C. Code § 1-1001.11	Less than 1% of the total votes cast for the office.	N/A
Florida Fla. Stat. § 102.141(7)	0.5% of the votes cast on the office or measure.	By 3 p.m. on the ninth day after the election; recounts not completed by this deadline require a second certification of election results after the recount is completed.
Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. § 11-158	100 votes or fewer or 0.25% of the total votes cast for the contest, whichever is greater.	By the fifth business day after the election.
Kentucky KRS § 120.157	0.5% or less of the votes cast for the office.	Within 14 days, Sundays excluded.
Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.880a, § 168.875	2,000 votes or less in a statewide primary or election.	All recounts shall be completed for a primary election not later than the twentieth day and for any other election not later than the thirtieth day immediately following the last day for filing counter petitions or the first day that recounts may lawfully begin.
Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-1119	1% or less of the votes received by the candidate who received the highest number of votes for the office if more than 500 total votes were cast, or 2% or less of the votes received by the candidate who received the highest number of votes for the office if 500 or less total votes were cast.	N/A
New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-14-24, § 1-14-16	Less than 0.25% of the total votes cast in the election for a federal or statewide office or a statewide ballot measure; less than 1% of the total votes cast in the election for most other offices, including state legislators.	Within 10 days after receiving a request for or notice of automatic recount.
New York N.Y. Elec. Law § 9-208(4)	Margin of victory is 20 votes or less; or margin of victory is 0.5% or less; or in a contest where 1 million or more ballots are cast and the margin of victory is less than 5,000 votes. The term margin of victory shall mean the margin between all votes cast in the entire contest following the recanvass of votes.
North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-16-01	Primary: 1% or less of highest vote cast for that office. General: 0.5% or less of highest vote cast for that office. Ballot Measures: 0.25% or less of total vote cast for measure.	Recounts of state legislative races must be held within 11 days of the completion of the state canvass, and within 18 days for statewide races.
Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 3515.011, § 3515.03, § 3515.041	0.25% or less for statewide office or issue. 0.5% for other offices.	For presidential electors: not later than 6 days before the meeting of the electors. All other offices: 10 days after the declaration for a recount is made.
Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 258.280	Tie vote, or not more than 0.2% of the total votes for both candidates.	N/A
Pennsylvania 25 Pa. Stat. § 3154(g), Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3154(f)	0.5% or less of the votes cast for the office for statewide candidates and ballot questions.	Automatic recounts must be completed by noon on the first Tuesday following the third Wednesday after the election; count certification is delayed if a recount/recanvass is requested.
South Carolina S.C. Code § 7-17-280	Less than 1% of total votes cast for the office.	N/A
South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws § 12-21-16, § 12-21-20	Tie vote.	The recount board shall convene in the office of the county auditor at 9 a.m. on the second Monday after a recount petition is filed.
Texas Tex. Elec. Code § 216.001	Tie vote.	N/A
Utah Utah Code Ann. § 20A-4-401	Tie vote.	No later than 10 days after the board of canvassers certifies vote totals.
Washington Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.64.021	Less than 2,000 votes and also less than 0.5% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates.	N/A
Wyoming Wyo. Stat. § 22-16-109	When the difference in number of votes cast for the winning candidate receiving the least number of votes and the number of votes cast for the losing candidate receiving the greatest number of votes is less than 1% of the number of votes cast for the winning candidate receiving the least number of votes cast.	N/A

Requesting a Recount

Forty-one states and Washington, D.C., permit a losing candidate, a voter, a group of voters or other concerned parties to petition for a recount. In a few states, the vote totals for the top two candidates must be within a specified margin in order for the losing candidate to be able to request a recount. For example, in Georgia, a losing candidate may petition for a recount when results are within 0.5% of total votes cast for the office.

In summary:

Nine states do not provide a requested recount process: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina and Tennessee. Of these, six—Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, New York and South Carolina—do have automatic recount provisions.
In 39 states, a candidate can request a recount. In 12 of these, the results must be within a specified margin for a candidate to request a recount: Delaware, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.
In three states, a recount may be conducted by court order: Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee.
In Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, recounts must be requested via a petition signed by a specified number of registered voters.
In six states, political parties can request recounts under certain conditions: Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington.
Voters can request a recount in eight states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
In another seven states, voters can request a recount only on ballot questions (not candidate races): Kansas, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Elections officials can order recounts under certain conditions in four states: California, Georgia, Oregon and Wyoming.
In Colorado, the governing body referring a measure and a referendum or initiative petition sponsor can request a recount.

The table below details who can request a recount and provides relevant statutes.

Parties Authorized to Request a Recount
State	Parties Authorized to Request a Recount
Alabama Ala. Code § 17-16-21	Any qualified elector.
Alaska Alaska Stat. § 15.20.430	A defeated candidate or 10 qualified voters.
Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-662	There is no requested recount process; however, a recount can be ordered by a county superior court or conducted under the automatic recount provision.
Arkansas Ark. Code § 7-5-319	Any candidate dissatisfied with the returns.
California Cal. Elec. Code § 15610, 15620, 15640	An election official who has reasonable cause to believe ballots in the precinct have been miscounted or who is unable to explain the returns of their precinct. Any voter. By court order.
Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-10.5-106	A losing candidate, the political party or political organization representing such candidate. Any petition representative (as defined by 1-40-113) for a losing ballot measure. The governing body that referred a losing ballot measure. The agent of an issue committee that is required to report contributions and either supported a ballot question or ballot issue that did not pass or opposed a ballot question or ballot issue that passed at the election.
Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-323	There is no requested recount process; however, any elector or candidate aggrieved by any ruling of any election official may file a contest, which may result in a recount, and there is an automatic recount provisioin.
Delaware 15 Del. C. § 5702(c)	Any candidate for statewide office in a general election may apply to the court for a recount if the margin is less than 1,000 votes or less than 0.5% of all votes cast for the two candidates, whichever amount is less.
District of Columbia D.C. Code § 1-1001.11, CDCR 3-810	Within 7 days after the Board certifies the results of an election, a candidate may petition the Board in writing and specify the precincts in which the recount shall be conducted. Also, any voter may petition the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to review the election. The Board of Elections and Ethics may order a recount by hand when there is evidence of machine malfunction.
Florida	There is no requested recount process; however there is an automatic recount provision.
Georgia Ga. Code § 21-2-495	Where paper ballots are used, the superintendent may order a recount, or any candidate or political party may petition for one. Where voting machines are used and it appears there is a discrepancy or error, the superintendent shall order a recount, or three voters may petition for one. When results are within 0.5% of total votes cast for the office, a losing candidate may request a recount.
Hawaii	There is no requested recount process; however there is an automatic recount provision.
Idaho Idaho Code § 34-2301	Any candidate or any person supporting or opposing a ballot measure.
Illinois 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/23-23.2, 10 ILCS 5/22-9.1	A candidate or voter may contest an election by submitting a petition to the court. Any recount will be court-ordered. Also, candidates or a group of voters may submit a discovery petition. However, the results of the examination and count will not be certified, used to amend or change the abstracts of the votes previously completed, used to deny the successful candidate for the same office his certificate of nomination or election. Such count shall not be binding in an election contest.
Indiana Ind. Code Ann. § 3-12-11-2	Candidate or the chairman of a state or county political party.
Iowa Iowa Code § 50.48	A candidate whose name was on the ballot of the precinct(s) where the recount is requested or any other person who received votes for that office in the precinct(s) where the recount is requested and who is legally qualified to seek and hold the office in question.
Kansas Kan. Stat. § 25-3107	Any candidate. Any registered elector who cast a ballot in a constitutional amendment election.
Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. § 120.185	Any candidate who was voted for in the election.
Louisiana La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18:1313	Candidate for the office to be recounted.
Maine 21-A M.R.S. § 737-A	A candidate who is the apparent loser.
Maryland Md. Code, Elec. Law § 12-101	A candidate for public or party office who has been defeated based on the certified results of any election.
Massachusetts Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 54, § 135	Statewide recount: by a petition signed by at least 1,000 voters. District recount: by a petition signed by one-fourth the number of voters required to sign nomination papers for state primary candidates in the appropriate district.
Michigan MCLS § 168.879, MCLS § 168.866	A candidate for an office canvassed by the state board of canvassers or a candidate for representative in Congress or state representative or senator of a district located wholly in one county; candidate must allege that the candidate is aggrieved on account of fraud or mistake in the canvass of the votes by the inspectors of election or the returns made by the inspectors of election, or by a board of county canvassers or the board of state canvassers. Chairperson of a state political party may petition on behalf of a candidate when a state Senate race has a differential of 500 votes or less, or a state representative race has a differential of 200 votes or less. A candidate for office who believes he or she is aggrieved on account of fraud or mistake in the canvass or returns of the votes by the election inspectors may petition for a recount of the votes cast for that office in any precinct or precincts.
Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 204C.35	A losing candidate whose name was on the ballot.
Mississippi	There is no recount process; an aggrieved person can seek remedy in court.
Missouri Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.601	Any contestant in a primary or other election contest who was defeated by less than 1% of the votes cast for the office and any person whose position on a question was defeated by less than 1% of the votes cast on the question.
Montana Mont. Code § 13-16-201	A candidate who is defeated by a margin not exceeding 0.25% of the total votes cast or by a margin not exceeding 10 votes, whichever is greater. 100 electors of the state, representing at least five counties of the state, may petition for a recount of a ballot question that is decided by a margin not exceeding 0.25% of the total votes cast for and against the question.
Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-1121	A losing candidate.
Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.407	A candidate at any election, or any registered voter of the appropriate political subdivision.
New Hampshire N.H. Rev. Stat. § 660:1, 660:17-a	Any candidate, provided the difference between the votes cast for the applying candidate and a candidate declared elected is less than 20% of the total votes cast in the towns which comprise the office to be recounted. A recount must also be allowed if any race on a ballot that is already undergoing a state representative recount shows a discrepancy of over 1% from the results previously reported to the secretary of state.
New Jersey N.J. Stat. § 19:28-1	Any candidate or 10 voters.
New Mexico N.M. Stat. § 1-14-14	Any candidate.
New York	There is no requested recount process; however, there is an automatic recount provision.
North Carolina N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-182.7	For non-statewide races: Any candidate, if the difference between the votes for that candidate and the votes for a prevailing candidate is not more than 1% of the total votes cast in the ballot item, or in the case of a multiseat ballot item not more than 1% of the votes cast for those two candidates. For statewide races, margin must be 0.5% of the votes cast in the ballot item, or 10,000 votes, whichever is less.
North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-16-01	Any individual who failed to be elected in a general or special election by more than 0.5% and less than 2% of the highest vote cast for a candidate for that office.
Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 3515.01	Any candidate. Any group of five or more qualified electors may file with the board of a county a written application for a recount of the votes cast at an election in any precinct in such county upon any question or issue.
Oklahoma 26 Okl. St. § 8-109	Any candidate whose name appeared on the ballot.
Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 258.161	A candidate or an officer of a political party on behalf of a candidate of the political party may file a demand that a recount in specified precincts in which votes were cast for the nomination or office for which the candidate received a vote. An elector may file a demand for a recount in specified precincts in which votes were cast on any measure which appeared on the ballot. A county clerk may file a demand for a recount in specified precincts in which votes were cast for the nomination or office for which a candidate received a vote or on any measure that appeared on the ballot.
Pennsylvania 25 Pa. Stat. § 3261	Any three qualified electors.
Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-19-36	Any candidate.
South Carolina	There is no requested recount process; however there is an automatic recount provision.
South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws §§ 12-21-8, 12-21-10, 12-21-11, 12-21-12, 12-21-14, 12-21-15	Any three registered voters of a precinct may request a recount of specified candidates or measures. A candidate for an office voted upon in only one county, or any legislative candidate, if the candidate is defeated by a margin of not more than 2% of the total votes cast for all candidates for that office. Any candidate for an office other than the Legislature is voted upon in more than one county, and has been defeated by a margin of 0.25% or less of the total vote cast for all candidates for such office. At least 1,000 voters representing at least five counties of the state may petition for a recount on a state measure if the margin is 0.25% or less. The chairman of the central committee of a state political party or any two or more candidates for presidential elector may file for a recount when the margin does not exceed 0.25%.
Tennessee Tenn. Code § 2-17-117	A recount may only be ordered by a court, a legislative body, or “a tribunal having jurisdiction of an election contest.”
Texas Tex. Elec. Code §§ 212.022, 212.023	Candidates, if the difference between the votes received by the candidate and the candidate elected is less than 10% of the votes cast for that candidate, if the candidate is tied or eligible for a runoff, if the secretary of state certifies that errors occurred, or if the total number of votes received by all candidates for the office is less than 1,000.
Utah Utah Code § 20A-4-401	A losing candidate, if the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate in the race and a losing candidate in the race is equal to or less than .25% of the total number of votes cast for all candidates in the race. A losing candidate, if total of all votes cast in the race is 400 or less, and the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate in the race and a losing candidate in the race is one vote.
Vermont 17 V.S.A. § 2601	The losing candidate in an election for federal office, statewide office, county office or state senator, if the difference between the votes cast for the winning and losing candidate is 2% or less of the total votes cast for all candidates for the office, divided by the number of persons to be elected. The losing candidate in an election for state representative, if the difference between the votes cast for the winning and losing candidate is 5% or less of the total votes cast for all candidates for the office, divided by the number of persons to be elected.
Virginia Va. Code § 24.2-800	Any candidate defeated by a difference of not more than 1% of the total vote cast for the two such candidates. 50 or more voters qualified to vote on a ballot question, if a difference of not more than 50 votes or 1% of the total vote cast for and against the question, whichever is greater.
Washington Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.64.011	An officer of a political party or any person for whom votes were cast in a primary who did not qualify for the general. An officer of a political party or any person for whom votes were cast at any election. Any group of five or more registered voters may file a written application for a recount of the votes or a portion of the votes cast upon any question or issue.
West Virginia W. Va. Code § 3-6-9	Candidates.
Wisconsin Wis. Stat. Ann. § 9.01	Any candidate voted for at any election who is an aggrieved party or any elector who voted upon any referendum question at any election.
Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 22-16-110, 22-16-109	Candidates. County canvassing board may conduct a recount if irregularities are apparent.

Recount Costs

Automatic recounts are paid for by the state or county that conducts the recount.

Most states that permit a candidate or other interested party to request a recount require the petitioner to pay a deposit toward the cost of conducting the recount. If the recount reverses the result of the election, that person’s deposit is refunded. If the recount does not change the election result, the petitioner is required to pay most of the costs associated with the recount.

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Brief Election Recounts

Introduction

Automatic Recounts

Requesting a Recount

Recount Costs

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Electioneering Prohibitions

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