Which of the following provisions limits the use of recounts in texas elections?

An election recount is a repeat tabulation of votes cast in an election that is used to determine the correctness of an initial count. Recounts will often take place if the initial vote tally during an election is extremely close. Election recounts will often result in changes in contest tallies. Errors can be found or introduced from human factors, such as transcription errors, or machine errors, such as misreads of paper ballots.

Australia[edit]

Australian elections use instant-runoff voting and single transferable vote at the federal level to determine representatives for the House of Representatives and the Senate respectively. Tabulating votes for both houses involves automatic recounts known as "fresh scrutiny." For the House, this process occurs the Monday after a general election.[1] The process in the Senate occurs shortly after the election, but only first preferences are recounted. A voter's full preferences for the Senate are not counted until after fresh scrutiny occurs.[2] Candidates for either house may also request recounts, though such a request may be refused by the Electoral Commission.[3]

Similar processes occur at the state and territorial level.[4] As in federal elections, candidates may request recounts subject to the discretion of electoral authorities.[5]

Recounts in Canadian elections are known as "judicial recounts" because a superior court judge oversees them. In federal elections, tied elections or races with a difference of 0.1% result in automatic recounts. Electors (including candidates) may also petition for recounts within four days of the final vote count under certain conditions.[6] Each province and territory has its own regulations regarding provincial or territorial elections.

Ireland[edit]

In Irish presidential elections, recounts occur only at the approval of the High Court. Candidates or the Director of Public Prosecutions may petition for a recount within seven days of the election. In the event of a recount, the High Court's decision is final.[21] An identical process is available for elections to the Oireachtas.[22]

New Zealand[edit]

New Zealand uses a mixed-member proportional representation system for elections to its Parliament. As in Australia, an official count takes place shortly after the election day involving a recount of all of the ballots in electorates. Judicial recounts are also available in electorate and party list races.[23] No threshold is needed for a recount to occur.[24]

United States[edit]

In the United States recounts rarely reverse election results. Of the 4,687 statewide general elections held from 2000 to 2015, 27 were followed by a recount, and only three resulted in a change of outcome from the original count: 2004 Washington gubernatorial election, 2006 Vermont Auditor of Accounts election, and 2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota.[25] Recounts are conducted at the state level rather than the federal level, even for federal offices.

Recount methods[edit]

Machine recount[edit]

A machine recount is a retabulation of ballots cast during the election. This can be done using an optical scan voting system, punched card system or direct-recording electronic (DRE) voting machine. With document-based Ballot Voting Systems, ballots are counted a second time by some form of machine. With Non-document-based Ballot Voting Systems officials will recollect vote data from each voting machine which will be combined by a central tabulation system.

Manual recount[edit]

A manual or "hand" recount involves each individual physical representation of voter intent being reviewed for voter intent by one or more individuals.

With DRE voting machines, a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) is examined from each voter. For some DREs that do not generate a VVPAT, images can be printed for each ballot cast and counted individually.[clarification needed]

Recounts can be mandatory or optional. In some jurisdictions, recounts are mandatory in the event the difference between the top two candidates is less than a percentage of votes cast or of a fixed number.[26] Mandatory recounts are paid for by the elections official, or the state. Mandatory recounts can usually be waived by the apparent losing candidate. The winning side will usually encourage the loser to waive the recount in a show of unity and to avoid spending taxpayer money.

Each jurisdiction has different criteria for optional recounts. Some areas permit recounts for any office or measure, while others require that the margin of victory be less than a certain percentage before a recount is allowed. In all instances, optional recounts are paid for by the candidate, their political party, or, in some instances, by any interested voter. The person paying for the recount has the option to stop the recount at any time. If the recount reverses the election, the jurisdiction will then pay for the recount.

Rules for election recounts in U.S. statesStateAutomaticRequested AlabamaWhen difference is less than 0.5%Available to both candidates and voters; an election contest must be filed if the recount changes the result AlaskaWhen tiedAvailable to both candidates and voters ArizonaWhen difference is less than 0.1%[27]Not available[27] ArkansasNoneAvailable; the election commission may also initiate a recount CaliforniaNoneAvailable to voters; the governor may initiate a recount if difference is less than 1,000 votes or 0.1% ColoradoWhen difference is less than 0.5%Available ConnecticutWhen difference is less than 20 votes OR less than 2000 votes when said difference is less than 0.5%Available; election officials may initiate recounts DelawareWhen difference is less than 1,000 votes OR less than 0.5% (whichever is smaller) (municipal elections - only if difference is less than 0.5%)Available, if difference is less than 1,000 votes OR less than 0.5% (whichever is smaller); voters can initiate in school board elections only FloridaWhen difference is less than 0.5%Available GeorgiaNone[27]Available, if difference is less than 0.5%[27] HawaiiNoneAvailable through the Supreme Court IdahoNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.1% or 5 votes (whichever is larger) IllinoisNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 5% (non-binding unless court-ordered); voters can initiate on ballot measures only IndianaNoneAvailable IowaNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 1% or 50 votes (whichever is larger) KansasNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.5% KentuckyNoneAvailable, unless an election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or General Assembly member LouisianaNoneAvailable, if difference is less than the total number of absentee and early ballots MaineNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 1.5% (legislative races) OR less than 1% OR 1,000 votes (whichever is smaller) (statewide races) MarylandNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.1% MassachusettsNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.5% MichiganWhen difference is less than 2000 votes[27]Available[27] MinnesotaNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.25% (federal, statewide, and judicial races) OR less than 0.5% (legislative races) OR less than 10 votes (when total number is less than 400 votes) MississippiNoneNot available MissouriNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.5% (state and federal races) OR less than 1% (local races) MontanaWhen tiedAvailable, if difference less than 0.25%; state pays costs NebraskaWhen difference is less than 1% (if more than 500 total votes) OR less than 2% (if 500 total votes or less)Available NevadaNone[27]Available[27] New HampshireNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 20% New JerseyNoneAvailable New MexicoWhen difference is less than 0.25% (federal and statewide races) OR less than 0.5% (judicial races and certain local races) OR less than 1% (all other races)Available (voters may initiate only under the Liquor Control Act) New YorkWhen difference is less than 20 votes OR less than 0.5% OR less than 5,000 votes (if more than 1 million votes)Available for local races only North CarolinaNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 0.5% OR less than 10,000 votes (whichever is less) (statewide races) OR less than 1% (all other races) North DakotaWhen difference is less than 1% (primaries) OR less than 0.5% (general elections)Available, if difference is less than 2% OhioWhen difference is less than 0.25% (statewide races) OR less than 0.5% (all other races)Available OklahomaNoneAvailable OregonWhen difference is less than 0.2%Available PennsylvaniaWhen difference is less than 0.5%[27]Available[27] Rhode IslandNoneAvailable (margin dependent on total number of votes cast)[28] South CarolinaWhen difference is less than 1%Not available South DakotaWhen tiedAvailable, if difference is less than 0.25% (statewide races) OR less than 2% (all other races) TennesseeNoneAvailable by court order only TexasWhen tiedAvailable, if difference is less than 10% UtahNoneAvailable, if difference less than 0.25% OR if difference is only one (when <400 total votes were cast) VermontWhen tiedAvailable, if difference is less than 2% OR less than 5% (municipal and state representative races) VirginiaNoneAvailable, if difference is less than 1%; if difference is less than 0.5%, state pays costs WashingtonWhen difference is less than 2,000 votes OR less than 0.5%Available West VirginiaNoneAvailable WisconsinNone[27]Available; if difference is less than 0.25%, state pays costs[27] WyomingWhen difference is less than 1%Available

Source:[29]

Notable recounts[edit]

United Kingdom[edit]

More than one recount is allowed if a candidate or their agent requests one and the returning officer deems it appropriate.[33] It is possible for a defeated candidate denied a recount by the Returning Officer, to request one from the court by means of an election petition. There are several cases where a Parliamentary election has been the subject of a court-ordered recount.

When can recount be requested?

When must a recount request be made? A voter may file a recount request within five days beginning on the 31st day after a statewide election, or within five days following completion of any post canvass risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to Elections Code section 15560. (Elections Code § 15621(a).)

Who pays for a recount in Texas?

215.001. PAYMENT OF COSTS. (a) The authority responsible for paying the expenses of an election in which a recount is conducted shall pay the costs of the recount. (b) The fund from which a payment is made for a cost that is assessed against a person shall be reimbursed from the money received from that person.

What is the purpose of a procedure recount?

A recount is “a retabulation of the votes cast in an election.”3 An election official uses a recount to corroborate the certified election results.

What is the recount?

A recount is the process of resolving a challenge to the final vote count reported for an election.