“I demand a recount!” was splashed throughout headlines through the 2000 Presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. 20 years later, President Trump and his administration demanded the identical following the official calling of Joe Biden because the nation’s president elect. How typically do recounts occur? Can they alter the end result of an election? Are recount legal guidelines the identical in each state? Immediately we dive into recounts and the way a lot (or how little) they have an effect on the ultimate outcomes of an election.

Earlier than a recount is an choice, it’s a very good place to begin to know the fundamental steps for counting votes which is similar course of in each state. Step one is for election officers to confirm voter eligibility by the necessities on mail-in ballots or whereas checking in voters on the polling stations. As soon as all of the ballots are solid, they’re counted and the unofficial outcomes are introduced to the general public. Election outcomes then undergo the processes of canvassing and certification. Canvassing is how state and native officers affirm the validity of ballots. The outcomes from canvassing are then used when election officers certify the ultimate election outcomes.

What’s a recount?

A recount is an official course of by which votes solid in an election are re-tabulated to verify the accuracy of the ultimate outcomes. Election recounts can happen from native to state to the presidential degree. Within the case of presidential elections, the recounts should be achieved on the state degree.

Why and the way do recounts occur?

Recounts can happen both mechanically or by request from the voters or a candidate (often the one who misplaced) within the circumstances of potential administrative errors, election fraud, or a detailed race.

The U.S. election administration is reported to be an underfunded program which may end up in administrative errors as a result of lack of sources, gear malfunctions, and lengthy processing instances. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, election officers appealed to Congress for help. States obtained $400 million in funding which was important sufficient to assist develop voting choices and put together for the unprecedented adjustments in election processes. Regardless of the doubts about election safety, the Brennan Heart for Justice reported that voter fraud may be very uncommon and U.S. elections have gotten safer within the final 4 years. On the subject of shut races, states require a detailed vote margin — both a share or variety of votes — to provoke a recount.

Do recount legal guidelines differ from state to state?

They certain do! As of November 2020, eighteen states have no less than one legislation that triggers an automated recount if the outcomes are inside a detailed vote margin. 5 states have a legislation that may require an automated recount within the occasion of a tie whereas 4 states require automated recounts in circumstances of any discrepancies.

For requested recounts, forty three states together with Washington D.C. have legal guidelines that enable dropping candidates, voters, or different involved events to petition for a recount. In the meantime some states enable for a requested recount inside a sure margin of votes with different states allow requested recounts just for poll measures and never candidate races.

Are recounts widespread?

Not as a lot as you’d suppose. FairVote carried out a examine between 2000–2015 of 4,687 statewide common elections. There have been solely 27 statewide recounts and 15 (solely. 58% of statewide elections!) have been thought of “consequential.” FairVote discovered the identical inside subcategories in statewide elections with solely 3 consequential recounts out of 808 elections for the workplaces of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, lawyer common, and treasurer. Final result reversals are even much less prone to occur than recounts. The examine reported solely 3 reversals out of 15 consequential recounts.