Can Arizona candidates demand a recount of election results?
By Ngan Nguyen
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NO
Candidates or members of the public cannot request a recount according to Arizona state law.
An automatic recount of ballots is triggered when the margin between two candidates is less than or equal to 0.5% of the total votes cast for the top two candidates.
A law passed in 2022 changed the recount threshold in Arizona. Previously, a recount would be triggered at a 0.1% vote margin between two candidates. The Secretary of State’s office warns that more contests may be subjected to the recount process this year due to the new law.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Arizona Legislature Certification to superior court of facts requiring recount
Arizona Legislature Automatic recount; requirements
Arizona Secretary of State Arizona Secretary of State
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