Recount

A recount is a repeat tally of ballots in a contest to check whether the original count was accurate. Rules differ by state. Many require an automatic recount if the margin falls below a threshold, such as half a percentage point, while others allow a candidate to request one, sometimes at their own expense if the margin is wide.

Recounts may be run on machines again or by hand, and state law sets who may observe and what counts as a valid vote. Disputes arise over ballots with unclear marks and over standards for the voter's intent, as in Florida in 2000, when the Supreme Court halted a manual recount in Bush v. Gore. Studies of past recounts show that they typically shift totals by a very small number of votes, often a few dozen in statewide races.

Recounts differ from audits, which sample ballots, as in a risk-limiting audit, to confirm that the outcome is right. Supporters say they improve confidence in close races, while critics point to the cost, delay and potential for litigation. Close results often prompt arguments over provisional ballots and signature verification rulings. Results become final upon election certification.