Election recount
Encyclopedia
An election recount is essentially a repeat tabulation of votes that is used to determine the correctness of an initial count. Recounts will often take place in the event that the initial vote tally during an election
is extremely close.
Election recounts will often result in changes in contest tallies. Errors can be found or introduced from human factors
, such as transcription errors, or machine errors, such as misreads of paper ballots. Alternately tallies may change because of a reinterpretation of voter intent.
, punched card
system or DRE voting machine
. With document-based Ballot Voting Systems, ballots are counted a second time by some form of machine
. With Non-document-based Ballot Voting Systems officials will recollect vote data from each voting machine which will be combined by a central tabulation system.
With DRE voting machines, a voter verified paper audit trail
(VVPAT) is examined from each voter. Some DREs that do not generate a VVPAT, images can be printed for each ballot cast and counted individually.
Each jurisdiction has different criteria for optional recounts. Some areas permit recounts for any office or measure, while others require that the margin of victory be less than a certain percentage before a recount is allowed. In all instances, optional recounts are paid for by the candidate, their political party, or, in some instances, by any interested voter. The person paying for the recount has the option to stop the recount at any time. If the recount reverses the election, the jurisdiction will then pay for the recount.
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
is extremely close.
Election recounts will often result in changes in contest tallies. Errors can be found or introduced from human factors
Human reliability
Human reliability is related to the field of human factors engineering and ergonomics, and refers to the reliability of humans in fields such as manufacturing, transportation, the military, or medicine...
, such as transcription errors, or machine errors, such as misreads of paper ballots. Alternately tallies may change because of a reinterpretation of voter intent.
Recount methods
Machine recount
A machine recount is a retabulation of ballots cast during the election. This can be done using an optical scan voting systemOptical scan voting system
An optical scan voting system is an electronic voting system and uses an optical scanner to read marked paper ballots and tally the results.-History:...
, punched card
Punched card
A punched card, punch card, IBM card, or Hollerith card is a piece of stiff paper that contains digital information represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions...
system or DRE voting machine
DRE voting machine
A direct-recording electronic voting machine records votes by means of a ballot display provided with mechanical or electro-optical components that can be activated by the voter ; that processes data by means of a computer program; and that records voting data and ballot images in memory components...
. With document-based Ballot Voting Systems, ballots are counted a second time by some form of machine
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
. With Non-document-based Ballot Voting Systems officials will recollect vote data from each voting machine which will be combined by a central tabulation system.
Manual recount
A manual or "hand" recount involves each individual physical representation of voter intent be reviewed for voter intent by one or more individuals.With DRE voting machines, a voter verified paper audit trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail or Verified Paper Record is intended as an independent verification system for voting machines designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly, to detect possible election fraud or malfunction, and to provide a means to audit the stored...
(VVPAT) is examined from each voter. Some DREs that do not generate a VVPAT, images can be printed for each ballot cast and counted individually.
Legal requirements
Recounts can be mandatory or optional. In some jurisdictions, recounts are mandatory in the event the difference between the top two candidates is less than a percentage of votes cast or of a fixed number. Mandatory recounts are paid for by the elections official, or the state. Mandatory recounts can usually be waived by the apparent losing candidate. The winning side will usually encourage the loser to waive the recount in a show of unity and to avoid spending taxpayer money.Each jurisdiction has different criteria for optional recounts. Some areas permit recounts for any office or measure, while others require that the margin of victory be less than a certain percentage before a recount is allowed. In all instances, optional recounts are paid for by the candidate, their political party, or, in some instances, by any interested voter. The person paying for the recount has the option to stop the recount at any time. If the recount reverses the election, the jurisdiction will then pay for the recount.
Notable recounts
- Florida election recountFlorida election recountThe Florida election recount of 2000 was a period of vote re-counting that occurred following the unclear results of the 2000 United States presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, specifically the Florida results. The election was ultimately settled in favor of George W. Bush when...
- 2000 U.S. presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 2000The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President.... - Washington gubernatorial election, 2004Washington gubernatorial election, 2004The election for governor of Washington on November 2, 2004 gained national attention for its legal twists and extremely close finish. Notable for being among the closest political races in United States election history, Republican Dino Rossi was declared the winner in the initial automated count...
- Vermont Auditor of Accounts election, 2006Vermont Auditor of Accounts election, 2006The 2006 Vermont Auditor of Accounts election was held on November 7, 2006 and resulted in one of the closest state-wide election victories in Vermont history...
- Florida's congressional elections, 2006 - Florida's 13th congressional districtFlorida's 13th congressional districtFlorida's 13th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses all of Sarasota, DeSoto, and Hardee counties and most of Manatee County except for a small northern coastal portion that is located in the neighboring 11th Congressional District...
- United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008The 2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 4, 2008. After a legal battle lasting over eight months, Al Franken from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in one of the closest elections in the history of the Senate...