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May
09

Recounts

Find out what recounts are, why recounts happen, how we recount elections, and the results of past recounted elections.

Vote recounts are either requested or legally required. Recounts are legally required when the votes for an office or state measure fall within a certain range. Local ballot measures do not have a required recount range. 

A recount can be requested by:

  • A candidate
  • A political party representative for an office
  • A group of five or more voters for a ballot measure

Who pays for a recount?

  • For required recounts, the state or the county pays the costs.
  • For requested recounts, the individual or group making the request pays the costs. If the result of the election is reversed, the county pays the costs.

Types of recounts

There are two ways to conduct a recount—by machine or by hand.

Recounts by machine

During a machine recount, the ballots are processed through the tabulation equipment. Staff reviews ballots as needed to confirm the original results were accurate.

Machine recounts are required when the vote total difference between two candidates is less than 2,000 votes and also less than 0.5% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates.

Recounts by hand

During a hand recount, staff reviews ballots in teams of two and hand tallies the votes.

Hand recounts are required when the vote total difference between two candidates is less than 150 votes and also less than 0.25% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates.

Observing a recount

Political party observers, candidates, and their representatives are allowed to observe all stages of a recount. Other members of the public may also be allowed to observe the process.

Where are recounts held?

The County Canvassing Board sets the date and time of the recount.

How do I request a recount?

To request a recount, submit a recount application within two business days after the election results are certified. The person(s) requesting the recount are responsible for paying the costs of the recount.

Read the Jurisdiction Manual for more information (893KB)

View or download the recount application (127KB)

Recount history

2023 primary election, August 1

Enumclaw School District No. 216, Director District No. 4

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 6,130 6,130
Metschan 1,493 1,493
Stouffer 2,589 2,589
Pettit 1,505 1,505
Undervotes 492 492
Overvotes 4 4
Write-ins 47 47

2022 general election, November 8

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - FED 30-3091 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 459 459
Smith 288 288
Basler 162 162
Undervotes 9 9
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - FED 30-3091 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 258 258
Smith 228 228
Basler 28 28
Undervotes 2 2
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

2022 primary election, August 2

Legislative District No. 47, State Senator

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 30,797 30,797
Boyce 13,734 13,734
Kaur 8,157 8,157
Kauffman 8,222 8,222
Undervotes 627 627
Overvotes 11 11
Write-ins 46 46

2021 general election, Nvember 2

City of Newcastle, Council Position No. 6

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 3,489 3,489
Charbonneau 1,672 1,672
Irigon 1,662 1,662
Undervotes 154 154
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 1 1

Issaquah School District No. 411, Director District No. 4

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 28,895 28,895
Ghiora 12,841 12,841
Mullings 12,955 12,955
Undervotes 3,015 3,015
Overvotes 2 2
Write-ins 82 82

Public Hospital District No. 1, Commissioner District No. 2

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 58,967 58,967
Griggs 25,220 25,220
Lambro 25,412 25,412
Undervotes 8,128 8,128
Overvotes 8 8
Write-ins 199 199

2020 general election, November 3

Legislative District No. 5 State Senator

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 97,471 97,469
Anderson 41,892 41,885
Mullet 41,949 41,943
Undervotes 12,124 12,135
Overvotes 3 3
Write-ins 1,503 1,503

US President & Vice President - Rose Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 446 446
Biden & Harris 291 291
Trump & Pence 130 130
Jorgensen & Cohen 15 15
Hawkins & Green 2 2
La Riva & Freeman 0 0
Kennedy & Jarrett 0 0
Undervotes 3 3
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 5 5

Congressional District No. 1, US Representative - Rose Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 446 446
DelBene 283 283
Beeler 139 139
Undervotes 23 23
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 1 1

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - FED 30-3021 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 602 602
Smith 371 371
Basler 203 203
Undervotes 28 28
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - KEN 47-0842 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 770 770
Smith 446 446
Basler 261 261
Undervotes 42 42
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 1 1

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - KEN 47-2568 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 379 379
Smith 216 216
Basler 135 135
Undervotes 28 28
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - MI 41-0775 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 583 583
Smith 422 422
Basler 139 139
Undervotes 21 21
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 1 1

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - SEA 37-1895 Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 610 610
Smith 573 573
Basler 18 18
Undervotes 18 18
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 1 1

Governor - Rose Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 446 446
Inslee 275 275
Culp 162 162
Undervotes 5 5
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 4 4

Attorney General - Rose Precinct

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 446 446
Ferguson 263 263
Larkin 168 168
Undervotes 15 15
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

2020 primary election, August 4

Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) SEA 36-1721

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 441 441
Marcus 104 104
Vu 105 105
Undervotes 232 232
Overvotes 0 0

2019 general election, November 5

City of Bothell, Council Position No. 2

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 8,082 8,082
Thompson 3,486 3,486
Henderson 3,645 3,645
Undervotes 931 931
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 20 20

City of Mercer Island, Council Position No. 1

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 10,426 10,426
Thompson 4,768 4,768
Rosenbaum 4,808 4,808
Undervotes 839 839
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 11 11

City of Redmond, Council Position No. 1

Mandatory machine recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 14,659 14,659
Myers 6,600 6,600
Khan 6,666 6,666
Undervotes 1,366 1,366
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 27 27

2018 primary election, August 7

Congressional District No. 1, US Representative - BOT 01-2865

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 152 152
Mair 0 0
Pilskog 11 11
DelBene 101 101
Beeler 26 26
Stafne 13 13
Undervotes 1 1
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 1, US Representative - HOLIDAY LAKE

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 127 127
Mair 2 2
Pilskog 1 1
DelBene 56 56
Beeler 48 48
Stafne 17 17
Undervotes 3 3
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 1, US Representative - MARYMOOR

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 0 0
Mair 0 0
Pilskog 0 0
DelBene 0 0
Beeler 0 0
Stafne 0 0
Undervotes 0 0
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 1, US Representative - RED 48-3548

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 113 113
Mair 0 0
Pilskog 3 3
DelBene 77 77
Beeler 24 24
Stafne 6 6
Undervotes 0 0
Overvotes 1 1
Write-ins 1 1

Congressional District No. 1, US Representative - SILVER SPURS

Requested manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 3 3
Mair 0 0
Pilskog 0 0
DelBene 3 3
Beeler 0 0
Stafne 0 0
Undervotes 0 0
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Congressional District No. 9, US Representative - RNT 11-0539

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 136 136
Basler 40 40
S. Smith 41 41
A. Smith 50 50
Undervotes 4 4
Overvotes 1 1
Write-ins 1 1

US Senator - RED 45-2410

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 398 398
Amundson 1 1
Strider 0 0
Gibson 0 0
Luke 4 4
GoodSpaceGuy 0 0
Tannehill 11 11
Cantwell 266 266
Hutchison 76 76
Chase 0 0
Owen 1 1
Heines 0 0
Wright 1 1
Coday 6 6
Orlinski 0 0
Jackson 0 0
Swank 3 3
Tsimerman 0 0
Smith 0 0
Rivers 7 7
Ferguson 5 5
Hoffman 0 0
Kalberer 1 1
Deal 0 0
De La Fuente 0 0
Butler 0 0
Bryant 7 7
Said 6 6
Hawkins 0 0
Stockwell 0 0
Undervotes 1 1
Overvotes 0 0
Write-ins 0 0

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 154 154
Baruso 38 38
Rogers 38 38
Undervotes 78 78
Overvotes 0 0

No recounts.

2016 primary election, August 2

Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) BEL 48-0142

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 92 92
Cole 11 11
Jackson-Duenwald 11 11
Undervotes 70 70
Overvotes 0 0

Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) FED 30-3015

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 178 178
Belvin 24 24
Burman 24 24
Undervotes 130 130
Overvotes 0 0

Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) FED 30-3045

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 147 147
Rutland 19 19
Nyberg 19 19
Undervotes 109 109
Overvotes 0 0

Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) RNT 11-1004

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 103 103
Cartwright 29 29
Kempe 29 29
Undervotes 45 45
Overvotes 0 0

2015 general election, November 3

City of Seattle, Council District No. 1

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 27,757 27,757
Herbold 12,459 12,459
Braddock 12,420 12,420
Undervotes 2,713 2,722
Overvotes 1 1
Write-ins 164 155

2014 primary election, August 5

Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) KMR 46-0696

Mandatory manual recount Original results Recount results
Ballots cast 255 255
Frederick 41 41
Roark 41 41
Undervotes 173 173
Overvotes 0 0

Related Topics

Past election results

Archived results of elections from the past ten years.
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