Secretary Fontes Announces Automatic Recount Procedures

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Press Release

PHOENIX – Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 16-661(A), the Arizona Secretary of State's office is mandated to conduct automatic recounts for several tightly contested races in the 2024 General Election, where margins are at or below 0.5%.

“The counties will canvass the General Election results on November 21, 2024. Recounts will be filed in court on November 22, and we will carry out a statewide canvass on November 25, 2024, to ensure we take the time necessary for accuracy in our elections,” said Secretary Fontes

A recount is confirmed for the State Representative race in Legislative District No. 2 due to the narrow margin.

Recount Procedures:

  • The recount is triggered automatically when the vote margin between the top two candidates, or in the case of ballot measures, for and against, is 0.5% or less of the total votes cast.
  • The appropriate filing officer will file a lawsuit in the appropriate superior court and obtain a court order to begin the recount.
  • All electronic voting equipment used in the recount will undergo Logic and Accuracy (L&A) testing prior to the recount to ensure the accuracy of the results.
  • Paper ballots from the affected races will be re-tabulated using designated electronic voting equipment. During the recount process, interim results will not be disclosed to the public.
  • Final recount outcomes will be sealed and announced in court.

 

Additional Provisions:

  • Post-recount, a mandatory hand count audit of precincts is required for all legislative, statewide, and federal races as per A.R.S. § 16-661 to A.R.S. § 16-666. In elections with vote centers, a minimum of 5% will undergo a hand count by election officers and party representatives.
  • For all races except the Secretary of State’s, the Board of Supervisors or the election officers will handle the preparation and testing of voting equipment. If the recount involves the Secretary of State’s race, these duties shift to the Governor, in accordance with A.R.S. § 16-664(B).

 

The Secretary of State’s office is dedicated to ensuring a precise and transparent recount process, with official results to be declared following the judicial review.

 

For comprehensive recount guidelines, please see page 254 of the 2023 Elections Procedures Manual

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Contact Us
Aaron Thacker
Communications Director

 

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