Recount laws in Utah
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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.
Utah law requires automatic recounts if two or more candidates are tied. Candidates and voters may request a recount under certain circumstances. For candidate-requested recounts, the state pays all costs. For voter-requested recounts of ballot measures, the requester pays all costs.
Summary of recount laws
The list below shows answers to common questions regarding recounts in Utah.[1]
- Does state law require automatic recounts?
- Yes, when a tie vote occurs. Utah also requires recounts in municipalities that have adopted ranked-choice voting when certain margins are met while tabulating the vote. See below to learn more.
- When must an automatic recount be completed?
- No later than 10 days after the day on which the board of canvassers certifies the vote.
- Can a recount be requested?
- Yes, the recount can be requested within three days of the canvass. The margin required is less than or equal to 0.25% of the total votes cast in the race or a difference of one vote if the total votes cast is less than or equal to 400. The recount must be completed no later than seven days after the request.
- Who pays for a requested recount?
- Varies. The state pays for recounts for any statewide race or multi-county race. For other races, political subdivisions are responsible for costs. The requester pays in recounts of ballot measures.
- Is a refund available for requested recount costs?
- No.
- Can a partial recount be requested?
- No.
Utah recount procedures
Automatic recount procedures
If two or more candidates receive a tie vote, state law requires an automatic recount paid for by the state, in statewide of multi-county race, or by political subdivisions for all other races. Recounts must be completed no later than the 10th day after the certification of the vote.[2]
Utah requires automatic recounts in municipalities that have adopted ranked-choice voting if certain margins are met in the course of tabulating the vote. More information about those thresholds and Utah's Municipal Alternative Voting Methods Pilot Project can be found here.
Utah does not require automatic recounts for any other type of election.
Requested recount procedures
Utah allows losing candidates to request a recount under the following circumstances:
| “ | ... [I]f the difference between the number of votes cast for a winning candidate in the race and a losing candidate in the race is equal to or less than .25% of the total number of votes cast for all candidates in the race ...
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| —Utah Code, 20A-4-401 | ||
The deadline to request such recounts is before 5:00 p.m. on the first business day after at least the third day following the canvass. The state covers the cost of candidate-requested recounts.[4]
Voters may request a recount of ballot measure results under the following circumstances:
| “ | (a) ... [I]f the proposition passes or fails by a margin that is equal to or less than .25% of the total votes cast for or against the proposition, any 10 voters who voted in the election where the proposition was on the ballot may file a request for a recount no later than 5 p.m. on the first business day that is at least seven calendar days after the day of the canvass ...
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” |
| —Utah Code, 20A-4-401 | ||
Requesters cover the cost of voter-requested recounts.[5]
There is no set deadline for the completion of requested recounts.
For more information about recount procedures in Utah, click here.
Utah voting equipment
- See also: Voting methods and equipment by state
Utah conducts all-mail elections. Election Day voting centers use hand-marked paper ballots, ballot-marking devices, and Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) ballot systems for its elections. The state requires a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) when conducting elections. According to the Election Assistance Commission, in a VVPAT system, "the voter can directly compare the electronic summary screen of the voting machine with the printed paper audit record" to verify their vote is counted correctly.[6][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.
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.
| 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) Utah'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
- Election recount laws and procedures in the 50 states
- Voting in Utah
- Utah
- Voting methods and equipment by state
Footnotes
- ↑ Utah Code, "20A-4," accessed September 26, 2025
- ↑ Utah Code, "20A-4-401(2)," accessed September 26, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Utah Code, "20A-4-401(6)," accessed September 26, 2025
- ↑ Utah Code, "20A-4-401(11)," accessed September 26, 2025
- ↑ Verified Voting, "The Verifier - Election Day Equipment - November 2026," accessed September 26, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Election Assistance Commission, "Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, Volume 1, Version 1.0" accessed September 26, 2025
- ↑ Verified Voting, "Arizona Recount Laws," accessed September 25, 2025
- ↑ 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.
