Daily Brew: October 6, 2025
Welcome to the Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, Brew.
By: Lara Bonatesta
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Nine states have changed their recount laws in 2025
- It’s National Voter Education Week
- State supreme court vacancy count for September 2025
Nine states have changed their recount laws in 2025
In the 2026 midterms, some elections could be decided by thin margins. In 2024, three U.S. Senate races and six U.S. House races were decided by less than one percentage point. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the states that have been updating their recount laws this year.
State recount laws differ in three key ways: whether a recount is available and, if so, if it occurs automatically or must be requested, which party may request a recount, and who pays for a recount if it occurs.
- Is a recount available: All but two states —Mississippi and Tennessee —allow for election recounts. Automatic recounts, which occur if election results meet specific criteria outlined in state law, are possible in 28 states. Requested recounts, where an interested party must ask for votes to be counted again, are allowed in 43 states.
- Who may request a recount: In 21 states, an interested party can only request a recount if the vote difference separating the two candidates or the yes and no votes on ballot measures is within a certain margin. In 42 states, candidates are allowed to request a recount. In four states, voters may request a recount for any election. In 31 states, voters can request recounts in only some elections or just for ballot measures.
- Who pays for a recount: The person who requests the recount pays for it in 23 states. Seven states pay for recounts. In 11 states, who pays depends on the circumstances of the election or the recount. In two states, it is unclear which party pays for the recount. In 27 states, a refund may be available for a requested recount. In four states, the possibility of a refund depends on the circumstances of the recount. In five states, no refund is available. Fourteen states have state-funded requested recounts, or do not have requested recounts.
So far this year, nine states have passed 11 bills changing their recount laws. One state moved to implement automatic recounts that did not have them before. No other states implemented recounts that did not previously have them. Some noteworthy laws include:
- Hawaii SB 176 increased the vote margin required for an automatic recount from 0.25% to 0.5% or 100 votes, whichever is less. Governor Josh Green (D) signed the bill on June 25.
- Iowa HF 928 made numerous changes to the state’s recount law. This includes requiring the race to be within a specific margin in order for a candidate to request a recount. That margin must be within 0.15% for federal or statewide races or 1% or 50 votes, whichever is less, for all other races. Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed the bill on June 2.
- Maine LD 600 provides for automatic recounts in the event of a tied election. Previously, Maine did not have automatic recounts. Governor Janet Mills (D) signed the bill on May 23.
- Rhode Island H 5384 extended the deadline a candidate has to request a recount from seven to nine days. Governor Daniel McKee (D) signed the bill on June 24.
Eight states adopted nine laws related to recounts in 2024. Fifteen states passed 19 such laws in 2023. Three states passed three such laws in 2022.
To learn more about recount legislation, check out Ballotpedia’s Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Plus, check out our November 2024 episode of On The Ballot to learn more about why recounts happen.
As part of our coverage of elections and election policy, Ballotpedia maintains a list of noteworthy recounts by year. Click here to see that list.
Click here to learn more about recount laws and procedures in each state.
It’s National Voter Education Week
Voting isn’t just about politics. It’s about your community and your future. Because voting is so important, Ballotpedia is excited to join more than 600 national partners in celebrating National Voter Education Week (NVEW). Launched in 2020, NVEW unites nonprofits, civic groups, businesses, and media organizations in a shared goal: ensuring every eligible American is fully prepared to vote.
Whether it’s decisions about affordability, education, or local services, your vote matters. With new laws and evolving processes, it’s crucial to get reliable, nonpartisan information to make confident choices.
Join us during National Voter Education Week from Oct. 6-10, 2025, to help bridge the gap between registration and voting. This week is dedicated to giving you the knowledge and tools you need to fully participate in our democracy.
Here are some actions you can take each day:
Day 1 – Register to Vote
Sign up to make your voice count in elections.
Day 2 – Get to Know Your Ballot
Learn about the candidates and issues you’ll vote on.
Day 3 – Make a Plan to Vote
Decide when and how you’ll cast your ballot.
Day 4 – Understand the Process
Know what to expect when you vote and how votes are counted.
Day 5 – Share with Friends & Family
Help the people you care about get ready to vote too.
Your vote shapes policies affecting your everyday life—from local schools to public transportation. Visit NationalVoterEducationWeek.org for more information and resources. Let’s make 2025 the year YOU vote with confidence!
State supreme court vacancy count for September 2025
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, let's look at who retired, was nominated, appointed, confirmed, and sworn in during September.
Here’s a quick summary:
- Two justices were sworn in
- One justice was sworn out
- Judicial nominating commissions announced finalists to succeed one justice
- One justice announced her retirement
Announced retirements:
- On Sept. 23, Justice Holly Kirby announced that she would step down from the Tennessee Supreme Court later this year. Kirby said her last day on the Court would be June 30, 2026. Former Gov. Bill Haslam (R) appointed Kirby in 2013. She took office in 2014 and voters retained her in 2016 and 2022. Kirby is the second state supreme court justice to confirm a retirement date in 2026. As of Sept. 30, Kirby's successor had not yet been named.
Candidates nominated, appointed, and confirmed:
- On Sept. 2, the Utah Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission released a list of seven finalists to succeed Utah Supreme Court Justice John A. Pearce. The finalists included two Appellate court judges, four district court judges, and the current Utah Solicitor General. The Commission allowed public comments on the applicants until Sept. 13, after which it sent the list of seven finalists to Gov. Spencer Cox (R). Cox has 30 days to make the final appointment. As of Sept. 30, Cox had not appointed Pearce's successor.
Justices sworn in/out:
- On Sept. 17, Larkin Walsh was sworn into the Kansas Supreme Court. Governor Laura Kelly (D) appointed her in August 2025. Before her appointment, Walsh was a lawyer with Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, a law firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. Walsh succeeds former Justice Evelyn Z. Wilson, another Kelly appointee who retired earlier this year. Walsh joins a court consisting of five Democratic-appointed justices and two Republican-appointed justices.
- On Sept. 18, Bryan Gould was sworn into the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Before his appointment, Gould was a shareholder and director at Cleveland, Waters and Bass, P.A., a law firm based in Concord, New Hampshire. Gould succeeds James Bassett, who retired in August 2025. Bassett was the only Democratic-appointed member of the Court. Former Gov. Chris Sununu (R) appointed the remaining four justices. Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) appointed Gould. New Hampshire Supreme Court justices are appointed to life positions and do not have terms.
- On Sept. 30, Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald resigned from the Hawaii Supreme Court after reaching the Court's mandatory retirement age of 70. Recktenwald served as chief justice since former Gov. Linda Lingle (R) appointed him in 2010. The Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission renewed his justiceship in 2020 for another 10-year term. At the time of his retirement, Recktenwald was the last remaining Republican-appointed justice on the Court. Recktenwald's vacancy gives Gov. Joshua Green (D) his third opportunity to appoint a justice to the Court.
To learn more about state supreme court vacancies or to see our previous updates, click here.
