Recount laws in Rhode Island

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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.

Rhode Island law does not allow for automatic recounts. A candidate may request a recount under certain circumstances. A voter may also request a recount of a ballot measure under certain circumstances. Election officials may request a recount in response to error, irregularities, or improprieties in the conduct of an election.

Note: The content below describes recount procedures in Rhode Island. The information on this page is not intended to serve as a manual for those seeking to start or halt a recount; individuals seeking more information about specific processes and requirements should contact their state election agencies.

Summary of recount laws

The list below shows answers to common questions regarding recounts in Rhode Island.[1]

  • Does state law require automatic recounts?
    • No.
  • When must an automatic recount be completed?
    • There are no automatic recounts in this state.
  • Can a recount be requested?
    • Yes. For general elections and any election involving a ballot measure, the deadline is no later than the seventh day following the declaration of results. The deadline to request a recount of a primary election is no later than 4:00 p.m. the day following the primary. Margin requirements for requesting a recount vary by office and election type, as described below. There is no set deadline for completion.
  • Who pays for a requested recount?
    • Unclear. State law does not specify who is responsible for costs.
  • Is a refund available for requested recount costs?
    • There is no refund mentioned in state law.
  • Can a partial recount be requested?
    • No.

Rhode Island recount procedures

Automatic recount procedures

Rhode Island does not require automatic recounts.

Requested recount procedures

In Rhode Island, a candidate can request a recount under the following conditions:[2]

  • Offices for which only one candidate can be elected:
    • If the total number of votes cast for the office in question is less than or equal to 20,000, a candidate can request a recount if he or she trails the winning candidate by 2 percent of votes cast or 200 votes, whichever is less.
    • If the total number of votes cast for the office in question is between 20,001 and 100,000, a candidate can request a recount if he or she trails the winning candidate by 1 percent of votes cast or 500 votes, whichever is less.
    • If the total number of votes cast for the office in question is greater than 100,000, a candidate can request a recount if he or she trails the winning candidate by 0.5 percent of votes cast of 1,500 votes, whichever is less.
  • Offices for which multiple candidates can be elected:
    • If the total number of votes cast for the office in question is less than or equal to 5,000, a candidate can request a recount if he or she trails the winning candidates by 2 percent of votes cast or 50 votes, whichever is less.
    • If the total number of votes cast for the office in question is between 5,001 and 20,000, a candidate can request a recount if he or she trails the winning candidates by 1 percent of votes cast or 100 votes, whichever is less.
    • If the total number of votes cast for the office in question is greater than 20,000, a candidate can request a recount if he or she trails the winning candidates by 0.5 percent of votes cast or 150 votes, whichever is less.

In the case of ballot questions, individual voters and/or groups may request a recount under the following conditions:[3]

  • For ballot questions for which fewer than 100,000 votes are cast, the margin of victory must be 2 percent or less.
  • For ballot questions for which more than 100,000 votes are cast, the margin of victory must be 1 percent or less.

Election officials may request a recount in response to error, irregularities, or improprieties in the conduct of an election.[4][5]

The deadline to request a recount of a primary election is no later than 4:00 p.m. the day following the primary.[4] For general elections and any election involving a ballot measure, the deadline is the seventh day following the declaration of results.[6] There is no deadline for the completion of a requested recount. State law does not specify who is responsible for the costs of a requested recount.

For more information about recount procedures in Rhode Island, click here.

Rhode Island voting equipment

See also: Voting methods and equipment by state

Rhode Island uses hand-marked paper ballots and ballot-marking devices for its elections.[7]

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 September 2025, state law in 48 states included a recount provision, automatic recounts are possible in 28 states, and requested recounts are possible in 43 states.

Recount laws by state
State Does state law include a recount provision? Are automatic recounts possible? Are requested recounts possible? Citation
Alabama Yes Yes Yes 16-20,21
Alaska Yes Yes Yes 20.430-490
Arizona Yes Yes No[8][9] 16-661,249
Arkansas Yes No Yes 7-5-319
California Yes No Yes 15620-15634
Colorado Yes Yes Yes 1-10.5
Connecticut Yes Yes No 9-445,6-311a
Delaware Yes Yes Yes 5702(C,E)
District of Columbia Yes Yes Yes 1-1001.11(a)
Florida Yes Yes No 102.141,166
Georgia Yes No Yes 21-2-495,499
Hawaii Yes Yes No 11-158
Idaho Yes No Yes 34-2301-2309
Illinois Yes No Yes 5/22-9.1, 18
Indiana Yes No Yes 3-12-11-1-10
Iowa Yes No Yes 43.56 & 50.48
Kansas Yes No Yes 25-3107
Kentucky Yes Yes Yes 120.017,095,185,250,280
Louisiana Yes No Yes 18-1451 & 1453
Maine Yes Yes Yes 737-A
Maryland Yes No Yes 12-101-107
Massachusetts Yes No Yes 54:135,A,B
Michigan Yes Yes Yes 168.879-894
Minnesota Yes Yes Yes 204C.35-361
Mississippi No No No N/A
Missouri Yes No Yes 115.601
Montana Yes Yes Yes 13-16-201-11
Nebraska Yes Yes Yes 32-1119,1121
Nevada Yes No Yes 293.403-405
New Hampshire Yes No Yes 660:1-16
New Jersey Yes No Yes 19:28-1,2,3
New Mexico Yes Yes Yes 1-14-14 to 25
New York Yes Yes Yes 9-208
North Carolina Yes Yes Yes 163-182.7,182.7A
North Dakota Yes Yes Yes 16.1-16-01
Ohio Yes Yes Yes 3515.01-072
Oklahoma Yes No Yes 26-8-109 to 117
Oregon Yes Yes Yes 258.006-300
Pennsylvania Yes Yes Yes 3154g,3261-3
Rhode Island Yes No Yes 17-19-37.1
South Carolina Yes Yes No 7-17-280
South Dakota Yes Yes Yes 12-21-1 to 37
Tennessee No No No 2-17,18
Texas Yes Yes Yes 211 to 216
Utah Yes Yes Yes 20A-4-401
Vermont Yes Yes Yes 17-51-2601,2602
Virginia Yes No Yes 8-24.2-800 to 802.3
Washington Yes Yes Yes 29A.64
West Virginia Yes No Yes 3-6-9
Wisconsin Yes No Yes 9.01 & 5.90
Wyoming Yes Yes Yes 22-16-109 to 114


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 September 2025, the requester of a recount pays for the recount in 23 states, the state pays in seven states, and in 11 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 four states a refund depends on the circumstances of the recount, and in five states no refund is available. Requested recounts are not possible in the remaining 14 states. In 27 states a partial recount may be requested.

Who pays for requested recounts?
State[10] 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[11] Yes 5/22-9.1, 18
Indiana Requester Yes Yes 3-12-11-1-10
Iowa State N/A No 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
Yes Yes 204C.35-361
Mississippi No requested recounts N/A No N/A
Missouri Requester Maybe[12] No 115.601
Montana State/Requester
Depends on margin
Maybe[13] 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[14]
Varies[15] 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[16] 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[17] 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[18]
No 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) Rhode Island's regular legislative session this year. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.


See also

Footnotes

  1. State of Rhode Island, "Title 17," accessed September 24, 2025
  2. Rhode Island Statutes, "Section 17-19-37.1," accessed September 24, 2025
  3. Rhode Island Statutes, "Section 17-19-37.3," accessed September 24, 2025
  4. 4.0 4.1 Rhode Island Statutes, "Section 17-15-34," accessed September 24, 2025
  5. Rhode Island Statutes, "Section 17-22-5.1," accessed September 24, 2025
  6. Rhode Island Statutes, "Section 17-19-37," accessed September 24, 2025
  7. Verified Voting, "The Verifier - Election Day Equipment - November 2026," accessed September 24, 2025
  8. Verified Voting, "Arizona Recount Laws," accessed September 25, 2025
  9. A court may order a recount under Arizona law.
  10. This category encompasses instances where the state government pays for recounts and those states where counties pay.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. The state covers requested recounts of statewide constitutional amendments. The requester covers all other recounts.
  15. 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.
  16. No mention in state law.
  17. No mention in state law.
  18. The state pays for candidate-requested recounts. The requester pays for voter-requested recounts of ballot measures.