How Recounts Work: Automatic Triggers, Requests and Audits
Dated editorial analysis; figures in this article are not recalculated automatically. Visit the linked race pages for current data.
When a race is extremely close, the word recount often appears within hours. But a recount is one tool among several, and the rules for it are set by each state. Some states require a recount automatically when the margin falls below a set level. Others allow a candidate to ask for one, sometimes at the candidate's own expense. A few have fewer provisions. This article explains the general mechanics and what to check for the contest you care about.
Three terms that are often mixed up
- Recount. Ballots are counted again, by machine, by hand, or both, to check the original tally.
- Audit. A routine review, often of a random sample of ballots or machines, that is done whether or not a race is close. An audit checks whether the equipment counted accurately; it is not a recount of the whole contest.
- Contest or legal challenge. A court case asking a judge to rule on a question such as whether certain ballots were eligible. It is separate from a recount and follows court procedures.
Automatic recounts
In states with automatic recounts, election officials must conduct one if the margin between candidates is at or below a threshold. The threshold may be a fixed number of votes, a percentage of ballots cast, or both, and it may differ for statewide, congressional and local contests. Some thresholds have been changed by legislatures in recent years, so older summaries can be out of date. The reliable source is the current state statute or the state election office, not a news article or social-media post.
Requested recounts
Where there is no automatic trigger, or where the margin is wider than the trigger, a candidate or sometimes a group of voters may be able to petition for a recount. Common conditions include:
- a margin within a stated percentage of the vote, such as within one percentage point or less;
- a filing deadline that begins after the canvass or certification;
- a requirement that the requester pay some or all of the cost, which may be refunded if the margin is small enough or the outcome changes.
How the recounting is done
Methods depend on the state's equipment and law. In a machine recount, paper ballots are run through scanners again, usually after the machines are tested. In a hand recount, teams of officials, often with observers from each side, count ballots manually and note any that are disputed. Some states use a mix, such as a machine recount first and a hand count if a candidate asks for one. States that use paper ballots can recount from the ballots themselves; the availability of a paper record is a key part of what makes a meaningful recount possible.
What recounts usually change
Recounts typically move the totals only slightly. Studies of past statewide recounts have found that the change in the margin is generally small, on the order of hundreds of votes at most, though the exact figure varies from case to case. That is one reason many close elections end the same way after a recount as before. A recount does not add votes that were never cast, and it generally does not resolve a question about whether a ballot was eligible; those questions are handled during the canvass or in court.
Timing
A recount usually cannot begin until counties have finished the canvass, and in some states it must be finished before certification or before a deadline for sending results forward. Because of this, a race that is headed for a recount can take weeks to settle. Our canvass and certification explainer describes the steps that come first.
Why this matters for polls
Pre-election polls usually measure an estimated margin with a margin of error of several points, much larger than the narrow gaps that trigger recounts. A poll cannot say which candidate will finish ahead in a contest that ends within a fraction of a percent. See How to Read Polls for more on that. To see how pre-election polls were presented for a few competitive contests, you can read the pages for Wisconsin Governor, North Carolina Senate and Nevada Governor.
What to check
- Your state election office's page on recounts, including the current margin thresholds.
- Whether the recount is automatic or requires a request, and the deadline.
- Whether the state counts by machine, by hand, or both.
- The date by which results must be certified.
Poll data on this site was last updated on November 3, 2026. Recount rules vary by state and can change; confirm details with your state election office.
Relevant race pages: North Carolina Senate · Nevada Governor · Wisconsin Governor