A look at state recount laws in various swing states. | Getty What are the recount rules in the battlegrounds?

It’s a nail biter of an election, meaning it’s time to bone up on state recount laws.

Here’s a POLITICO rundown of the 12 key battlegrounds and what it’d take to trigger a second look at who really won each in the presidential election.


Arizona: Holds a recount if the election is closer than 0.1 percent.

Colorado: There would be an automatic recount under state law if the vote difference is less than or equal to one half of one percent of the number of votes for the election’s leader.

Florida: A margin of victory of 0.5 percent or less triggers an automated recount of votes tallied by machine. If that re-tabulation cuts the margin to .25 percent or less, a hand recount is ordered of ballots showing undervotes or overvotes, only if they are numerous enough to potentially alter the outcome.

Iowa: Candidates can request recounts but have to pay for them unless the margin is less than 1 percent of the vote.

Michigan: A mandatory recount if 2,000 votes or less separate the top two candidates. Candidates can petition for a recount due to fraud or a counting error.

New Hampshire: Candidates can request one recount so long as the difference between winner and loser is less than 20 percent of the total votes in the towns where the election is contested.

Nevada: Whoever loses the election can demand and receive a recount. It must be filed in writing within three working days after the official vote canvass.

North Carolina: Candidates can request a recount if the margin is less than 0.5 percent of the vote or less than 10,000 votes, whichever is smaller.

Ohio: Automatic recount if the difference between the top two candidates is less than 0.25 percent

Pennsylvania: Automatic recount when vote margin is less than 0.5 percent. Voters can petition county boards for a recount. Voters or candidates can petition courts for a recount.

Virginia: The loser can request a recount if the difference is not more than one percent of the total vote cast.

Wisconsin: Any candidate can request a recount within three days of completion of the initial tally. The recount is free to the requesting candidate if the margin of victory is less than 0.5 percent, otherwise it must be paid for in advance.