Recount laws in Connecticut
|
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration. |
An election recount is a process by which votes cast in an election are re-tabulated to verify the accuracy of the original results. Recounts typically occur in the event of a close margin of victory, following accusations of election fraud, or due to the possibility of administrative errors. Recounts can either occur automatically or be requested by a candidate or voters.
Summary of recount laws
The list below shows answers to common questions regarding recounts in Connecticut.[1][2]
- Does state law require automatic recounts?
- Yes. For general elections, when the margin is less than 0.5% of total votes cast for office but not more than 2,000 votes, or fewer than 20 votes. For primary elections, when the margin is less than 0.5% of total votes cast for office but not more than 1,000 votes, or fewer than 20 votes. A recount is also required in the event of a discrepancy in vote totals.
- When must an automatic recount be completed?
- No set deadline.
- Can a recount be requested?
- Recounts may not be requested in this state.
- Who pays for a requested recount?
- Recounts may not be requested in this state.
- Is a refund available for requested recount costs?
- Not applicable. State law does not allow requested recounts.
- Can a partial recount be requested?
- No.
Connecticut recount procedures
Automatic recount procedures
Automatic recounts are required under the following circumstances:
- General elections: If the margin of victory is less than 0.5% of total votes cast for office but not more than 2,000 votes, or fewer than 20 votes.[3]
- Primary elections: If the margin of victory is less than 0.5% of total votes cast for office but not more than 1,000 votes, or fewer than 20 votes.[3][2]
- All elections: If election officials discover a discrepancy in vote totals.[1]
State law does not specify a deadline for the competition of an automatic recount.
Requested recount procedures
Connecticut does not allow requested recounts.
For more information about recount procedures in Connecticut, click here.
Connecticut voting equipment
- See also: Voting methods and equipment by state
Connecticut uses paper ballots and ballot marking devices for its elections. To learn more about voting methods and equipment in Connecticut and other states, see this article.[4]
50-state overview of recount laws
The table below summarizes where state laws allow for automatic and requested recounts. Click "show" to view the table.
As of July 2024, state law in 48 states included a recount provision, automatic recounts are possible in 27 states, and requested recounts are possible in 43 states.
50-state overview of requested recounts
The table below summarizes how requested recounts are paid for and whether it is possible for candidates to request a partial recount. Click "show" to view the table.
As of July 2024, the requester of a recount pays for the recount in 23 states, the state pays in six states, and in 12 states it depends on the circumstances of the election or the recount. In 27 states a refund may be available for a requested recount, in 12 states a refund depends on the circumstances of the recount, and in four states no refund is available. Requested recounts are not possible in the remaining seven states. In 28 states a partial recount may be requested.
Who pays for requested recounts? | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State[7] | Who pays for a requested recount? | Refund available? | Can candidates request a partial recount? | Citation | |||
Alabama | Requester | Yes | Yes | 16-20,21 | |||
Alaska | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | Yes | 20.430-490 | |||
Arizona | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 16-661,249 | |||
Arkansas | Requester | Yes | No | 7-5-319 | |||
California | Requester | Yes | Yes | 15620-15634 | |||
Colorado | Requester | Yes | No | 10.5-101-109 | |||
Connecticut | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 9-445,6-311a | |||
Delaware | State | N/A | Yes | 5702(C,E) | |||
District of Columbia | Requester | Yes | Yes | 1-1001.11(a) | |||
Florida | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 102.141,166 | |||
Georgia | State | N/A | Yes | 21-2-495,499 | |||
Hawaii | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 11-158 | |||
Idaho | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | Yes | 34-2301-2309 | |||
Illinois | Requester | Maybe[8] | Yes | 5/22-9.1, 18 | |||
Indiana | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3-12-11-1-10 | |||
Iowa | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | Yes | 43.56 & 50.48 | |||
Kansas | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | Yes | 25-3107 | |||
Kentucky | Requester | No | Yes | 120.017,095,185,250,280 | |||
Louisiana | Requester | Yes | Yes | 18-1451 & 1453 | |||
Maine | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | No | 737-A | |||
Maryland | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | Yes | 12-101-107 | |||
Massachusetts | State | N/A | Yes | 54:135,A,B | |||
Michigan | Requester | Yes | Yes | 168.879-894 | |||
Minnesota | State/Requester Depends on margin |
N/A | Yes | 204C.35-361 | |||
Mississippi | No requested recounts | N/A | No | N/A | |||
Missouri | Requester | Maybe[9] | No | 115.601 | |||
Montana | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Maybe[10] | No | 13-16-201-11 | |||
Nebraska | Requester | Yes | Yes | 32-1119,1121 | |||
Nevada | Requester | Yes | No | 293.403-405 | |||
New Hampshire | State/Requester Depends on election type[11] |
Varies[12] | No | 660:1-16 | |||
New Jersey | Requester | Yes | Yes | 19:28-1,2,3 | |||
New Mexico | Requester | Yes | Yes | 1-14-14 to 25 | |||
New York | Unclear[13] | No | No | 9-208 | |||
North Carolina | State | N/A | No | 163-182.7,182.7A | |||
North Dakota | Requester | No | No | 16.1-16-01 | |||
Ohio | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3515.01-072 | |||
Oklahoma | Requester | Yes | Yes | 26-8-109 to 117 | |||
Oregon | Requester | Yes | Yes | 258.006-300 | |||
Pennsylvania | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3154g,3261-3 | |||
Rhode Island | Unclear[14] | No | No | 17-19-37.1 | |||
South Carolina | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 7-17-280 | |||
South Dakota | State | N/A | Yes | 12-21-1 to 37 | |||
Tennessee | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 2-17,18 | |||
Texas | Requester | Yes | Yes | 211 to 216 | |||
Utah | State/Requester Depends on requester[15] |
N/A | No | 20A-4-401 | |||
Vermont | State | N/A | No | 17-51-2601,2602 | |||
Virginia | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | No | 8-24.2-800 to 802.3 | |||
Washington | Requester | Yes | Yes | 29A.64 | |||
West Virginia | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3-6-9 | |||
Wisconsin | State/Requester Depends on margin |
Yes | Yes | 9.01 & 5.90 | |||
Wyoming | Requester | Yes | No | 22-16-109 to 114 |
State legislation
The table below lists bills related to recounts introduced during, or carried over to Connecticut's regular legislative session this year. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.
See also
- Election recount laws and procedures in the 50 states
- Voting in Connecticut
- Connecticut
- Voting methods and equipment by state
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 9-311. Recanvass in case of discrepancy," accessed April 9, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 9-445. Recanvass on close vote," accessed April 9, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Connecticut General Assembly, "Sec. 9-311a. Recanvass on close vote," accessed April 9, 2024
- ↑ Verified Voting, "The Verifier - Polling Place Equipment - Current," accessed April 9, 2024
- ↑ Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota, "Arizona Recount Laws," accessed March 19, 2024
- ↑ A court may order a recount under Arizona law.
- ↑ This category encompasses instances where the state government pays for recounts and those states where counties pay.
- ↑ A recount alone cannot change the election results, but can be used to contest the election. At the end of that process, the court may choose not to levy costs against the prevailing party.
- ↑ Recounts occur as part of a contested election. A requester may be required to cover costs before the start of such an event. The court may choose to require the unsuccessful party in a contested election to cover the costs, which could involve a refund to the requester if he or she is the successful party.
- ↑ In the case of a court-ordered recount, candidates must pay, but will be refunded if the outcome changes. Regarding non-court-ordered recounts, state law does not mention whether the candidate is refunded in such a case.
- ↑ The state covers requested recounts of statewide constitutional amendments. The requester covers all other recounts.
- ↑ For local and county ballot measure elections, state law does not mention the possibility of a refund. For all other recounts, costs paid by the requester are refunded if the recount changes the election outcome.
- ↑ No mention in state law.
- ↑ No mention in state law.
- ↑ The state pays for candidate-requested recounts. The requester pays for voter-requested recounts of ballot measures.
|