How Election Recounts Work: Thresholds, Costs and Odds
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A recount is a second count of the ballots in a very close race. Each state writes its own rules, so they work differently from place to place. Our runoffs and recounts page shows every 2026 race within recount range, with that state's rule.
Automatic recounts
More than half of the states order a recount on their own when the gap between the top two candidates is under a set margin. The most common trigger is 0.5 percentage points; some states use 0.25 points or a fixed number of votes. The state or county pays.
Requested recounts
In most states, a losing candidate (and in some states, voters) can ask for a recount when the race is close but outside the automatic range. The person asking usually pays a deposit. If the recount changes the result, it's usually refunded; if not, they pay most of the cost.
How often do recounts change the winner?
Rarely. FairVote studied 6,929 statewide general elections from 2000 to 2023. There were 36 recounts, and only 3 changed the winner, all starting from margins under 0.06%:
- Washington governor, 2004 (Christine Gregoire overtook Dino Rossi)
- Vermont state auditor, 2006 (Thomas Salmon overtook Randy Brock)
- Minnesota U.S. Senate, 2008 (Al Franken overtook Norm Coleman)
On average, a statewide recount moved the gap between the top two by 551 votes, about 0.03% of the vote.
Sources: FairVote, "An analysis of statewide election recounts, 2000–2023"; National Conference of State Legislatures.
Questions and answers
What margin triggers an automatic recount?
It depends on the state. The most common trigger is a gap of 0.5 percentage points between the top two candidates; some states use 0.25 points or a fixed number of votes.
Who pays for a recount?
The state or counties pay for automatic recounts. When a candidate asks for one, they usually pay a deposit, which is usually refunded if the recount changes the result; if not, they pay most of the cost.
How often does a recount change the winner?
Rarely. FairVote found 36 recounts in 6,929 statewide general elections from 2000 to 2023, and only 3 changed the winner.