MI HB5862

Increases the base recount petition deposit from $10.00 to $25.00 per precinct for all recount petitions filed under sections 862, 863, 879, or 880.

Increases the higher deposit requirement from $10.00 to $125.00 per precinct when vote margins exceed 50 votes or 0.5% threshold for candidate races and ballot proposals.

Clarifies that deposits are refunded to petitioners who successfully establish fraud or mistake that changes election results, or when precincts are determined non-recountable or not recounted due to petition withdrawal.

Specifies that no refund is provided for precincts where votes have already been examined and recounted, even if the petition is subsequently withdrawn.

Applies the same deposit and refund provisions to both local recount petitions (filed with boards of canvassers) and state recount petitions (filed with the state bureau of elections).