Does Kansas conduct automatic recounts in close races?

Kansas does not automatically conduct recounts in close races, but candidates may request one.

The state does conduct close-race audits when federal, statewide or state legislative races falls within 1% of the election-night vote total. These supplement standard post-election audits, where votes in randomly selected precincts and races are publicly and manually counted to verify machine tabulators.

Close-race audits require hand-counting votes in 10% of precincts in each county. Audits must be completed before election results are certified, with counties covering the costs.

Recounts occur after certification. Candidates choose which counties or precincts to include. The state covers recount costs when a candidate is within 0.5% of the total votes cast or the recount overturns the results. Otherwise, candidates pay.

After the 2026 general election, races for governor, secretary of state, attorney general and House districts 27, 40 and 117 qualified for close-race audits.