How close does election have to be for a recount? Here’s how it works in swing states
Many polls have indicated that the election is on a knife’s edge in the battleground states — with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris separated by extremely narrow margins.
If the polls are accurate, then it’s possible that the election could result in recounts in some of these states — each of which has its own laws governing the process.
Some states require automatic recounts when specific voting margins are reached, while others allow candidates to request them.
Here is an overview of the recount process in the seven swing states.
When are recounts required or allowed?
Arizona: The Grand Canyon State requires a recount if the margin between the two leading candidates is equal to or less than 0.5% of the total votes cast, according to state election law.
Georgia: Candidates can ask for a recount if the margin of the total votes between candidates is equal to or less than 0.5%, according to the state’s website. Additionally, a recount can be requested in the case of “a suspected error or discrepancy in the returns.”
Michigan: The state requires an automatic, statewide recount if the margin between the candidates is 2,000 votes or less, according to state law. Candidates can also petition for a recount if certain requirements are met, including if they have an honest belief that without “fraud or mistake, the candidate would have had a reasonable chance of winning the election.”
Nevada: Candidates in the Silver State can demand a recount if specific requirements are met, according to state law. For example, they must file a request with the secretary of state and pay in advance for the estimated cost of the recount.
North Carolina: According to state law, candidates can request a recount if the margin of total votes cast between candidates is less than 0.5% or 10,000 votes.
Pennsylvania: The secretary of state will order a statewide recount if the margin of votes cast between the candidates is equal to or less than 0.5%, according to a 2023 directive from the secretary of state.
Wisconsin: Candidates can request a recount in the Badger State if the margin of votes cast between the candidates is equal to or less than 1%, according to state law.
More about recounts
Recounts are incredibly rare. Out of the 6,929 statewide elections between 2000 and 2023, only 36 ended up in recounts, according to an analysis by FairVote, a nonpartisan organization that researches elections.
Of those 36 cases, just three resulted in reversals of the outcome, the most recent reversal occurring in 2008 in a Minnesota Senate race.
Additionally, recounts typically result in a total vote count almost identical to the original vote count, with an average difference of 551 votes.
In 2020, recounts were conducted statewide in Georgia and in certain counties in Arizona, Wisconsin and Texas, according to Reuters. These recounts — which were supported by the Trump campaign and the GOP — did not result in winner reversals.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 3:16 PM with the headline "How close does election have to be for a recount? Here’s how it works in swing states."