SB 233 - Election Recounts Summary

• Requires candidates requesting a recount to file a petition with the secretary of the election board where they filed their declaration of candidacy, and petition may only be filed by a candidate whose name was printed on the ballot for that office.

• Establishes deposit requirements: $600 per affected county for electronic recounts, plus additional $600 per first 3,000 ballots and $600 per each additional 6,000 ballots for manual recounts, with an extra $300 deposit required if filing with the State Election Board.

• Imposes an additional deposit equal to the total of all prior deposits when the margin between first and second-place candidates is 10% or greater in candidate elections (with exceptions for primary runoffs).

• Provides that deposit refunds are available if recount succeeds in changing the election outcome; deposit required under the additional deposit provision is non-refundable unless the recount changes the outcome of the election.

• Effective date: November 1, 2013.