Bill Seeks to Increase Election Recount Fees

Liz Gullett

Oct 27, 2017

This week, the House Elections and Ethics Committee reported two bills making changes to the fees paid when an election recount is requested by a candidate. Under current law, if the number separating the winning candidate is more than fifty voters or half of 1% of the total votes, the candidate requesting a recount pays $125 per precinct. Otherwise, the candidate making the request pays $25 per precinct. “Recounts, especially ones that are statewide, can have a high price tag to local or state government. Following the request by Jill Stein after the 2016 Presidential election, several legislators have been calling for an increase to these fees,” stated Tim Ward of MLC.

Under the legislation as reported by the committee, there would be a $250 per-precinct fee when the number of votes separating the winning candidate and the petitioner is more than seventy-five votes or 5% of the total number of votes casts in the race, whichever is greater. Additionally, the bills state the candidate claiming to be “aggrieved” for the purpose of seeking a recount must be able to allege a good-faith belief that, if not for fraud or mistake, they would have had a reasonable chance of winning the election. The bills have been sent to the House floor for consideration.

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