HB 1245 Summary

• Amends North Dakota Century Code section 16.1-16-01 to clarify election recount thresholds by replacing "highest vote total" language with references to "the nominated candidate for the office sought who had the fewest number of votes" for primary elections.

• Mandatory recounts are triggered when a candidate fails to be nominated in a primary election by one percent or less of votes received by the nominated candidate with the fewest votes.

• Mandatory recounts are triggered when a candidate fails to be elected in a general or special election by one-half of one percent or less of votes received by the elected candidate with the fewest votes.

• Optional recounts may be demanded by candidates who fail nomination in primary elections by more than one percent but less than two percent, or fail election in general elections by more than one-half of one percent but less than two percent using the same vote comparison standard.

• Questions, measures, or bond issues decided by a margin not exceeding one-fourth of one percent of the total vote cast trigger mandatory recounts.