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S.F. No. 631 - Recount Threshholds for Publicly Funded Recounts
 
Author: Senator John A. Hoffman
 
Prepared By: Alexis C. Stangl, Senate Counsel (651/296-4397)
 
Date: February 21, 2013



 

This bill amends the thresholds for election recounts that are paid for with public funds.  Federal, state, and local offices are covered by the bill.

Section 1 amends the recount thresholds for publicly funded recounts for federal offices, state constitutional offices, statewide judicial offices, congressional offices, state legislative offices, and district judicial offices.  The current threshold is one-half of one percent of the total number of votes counted or ten votes in races where 400 votes or less were cast.  The bill keeps this threshold for state legislative offices.  For federal offices, state constitutional offices, statewide judicial offices, congressional offices, and district judicial offices, the threshold is changed to the smaller of either 3000 votes or one-quarter of one percent or ten votes or less in races where 400 votes or less were cast.

After the results are canvassed, the filing officer must notify any candidate that qualifies for a recount at public expense.  In order to have the race recounted, the candidate must submit a written request to the filing officer within 48 hours after the canvass of the election.  This is a change from current law where a recount is required if the threshold is met.

Section 2 specifies that the filing officer is the county auditor for state offices voted on in only one county.  The Secretary of State is the filing officer for all other federal and state offices.

Section 3 amends the recount threshold for publicly funded recounts for county, municipal, or school district offices.  The current threshold is one-half of one percent of the total votes counted for the office or ten votes or less in races where 400 votes or less were cast.  The bill determines the recount threshold based on how many votes were cast for a race.  In races where 50,000 or more votes are cast, the threshold is one-quarter of one percent.  In races where more than 400 and less than 50,000 votes are cast, the threshold is one-half of one percent.  In races where 400 or less votes were cast, the threshold is ten votes or less.

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