Recount laws in Indiana
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Anelection recount is a process by which votes cast in an election are re-tabulated to verify the accuracy of the original results. Recounts typically occur in the event of a close margin of victory, following accusations of election fraud, or due to the possibility of administrative errors. Recounts can either occur automatically or be requested by a candidate or voters.
Indiana law does not allow for automatic recounts. Candidates, party chairs, and voters may request a recount, depending on the situation. The requester is responsible for costs associated with the recount but a refund is available if the recount changes the election outcome.
Summary of recount laws
The list below shows answers to common questions regarding recounts in Indiana.[1]
- Does state law require automatic recounts?
- No.
- When must an automatic recount be completed?
- There are no automatic recounts in this state.
- Can a recount be requested?
- Yes, the recount can be requested between 10 and 14 days after the election. If a candidate does not meet that deadline, his or her party chair has three extra days to request a recount. No margin is required and the deadline for completion varies by office.
- Who pays for a requested recount?
- The requester.
- Is a refund available for requested recount costs?
- Yes. Costs paid by the requester are refunded if the recount changes the election outcome.
- Can a partial recount be requested?
- Yes.
Indiana recount procedures
Automatic recount procedures
Indiana does not require automatic recounts.
Requested recount procedures
Any candidate may request a recount by filing a request no earlier than 10 days after the election and no later than 12:00 p.m. 14 days after the election. If a candidate does not request a recount by that time, his or her party chair has three extra days to request a recount.[2] Any voter who voted in the election may request a recount for a ballot measure. In order to make such a request, the voter must present a petition containing signatures from at least 10% of the total number of voters who voted on the measure in question.[3] In all instances, the requester is responsible for costs associated with the recount. Any costs paid by the requester are refunded if the recount changes the election outcome.[4]
State law only specifies a deadline for a requested recount for certain offices. For legislative offices, a recount must be completed by December 20, but this can be extended if the State Recount Commission finds there is good cause for doing so.[5] For local offices, a recount must be completed by the final Friday in June for the primary or by December 20 for the general election.[6]
For more information about recount procedures in Indiana,click here.
Indiana voting equipment
Indiana uses hand-marked paper ballots, ballot-marking devices, and Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) systems for its elections. Some counties provide for a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) when conducting elections. According to theElection Assistance Commission, in a VVPAT system, "the voter can directly compare the electronic summary screen of the voting machine with the printed paper audit record" to verify their vote is counted correctly.[7][8]
Noteworthy events
Indiana's 8th Congressional District (1984)
The U.S. House of Representatives last reversed the results of a state-certified election in 1984. In that election, Indiana's certified results had Rick McIntyre (R) defeating incumbent Frank McCloskey (D) by 34 votes in the contest for Indiana's 8th Congressional District. The House, with a Democratic majority, conducted its own recount and concluded that McCloskey had defeated McIntyre by four votes out of over 233,000 ballots cast, a margin. McCloskey was sworn into office.[9]
50-state overview of recount laws
The table below summarizes where state laws allow for automatic and requested recounts. Click "show" to view the table.
As of September 2025, state law in 48 states included a recount provision, automatic recounts are possible in 28 states, and requested recounts are possible in 43 states.
The map and table below outline the type of recount laws in each state.
50-state overview of requested recounts
The table below summarizes how requested recounts are paid for and whether it is possible for candidates to request a partial recount. Click "show" to view the table.
As of September 2025, the requester of a recount pays for the recount in 23 states, the state pays in seven states, in 11 states it depends on the circumstances of the election or the recount, and in two states it is unclear which party pays for the recount. In 27 states a refund may be available for a requested recount, in four states a refund depends on the circumstances of the recount, and in five states no refund is available. The remaining 14 states have state-funded requested recounts or do not have requested recounts. In 27 states a partial recount may be requested.
| State[12] | Who pays for a requested recount? | Refund available? | Can candidates request a partial recount? | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Requester | Yes | Yes | 16-20,21 |
| Alaska | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | Yes | 20.430-490 |
| Arizona | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 16-661,249 |
| Arkansas | Requester | Yes | No | 7-5-319 |
| California | Requester | Yes | Yes | 15620-15634 |
| Colorado | Requester | Yes | No | 10.5-101-109 |
| Connecticut | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 9-445,6-311a |
| Delaware | State | N/A | Yes | 5702(C,E) |
| District of Columbia | Requester | Yes | Yes | 1-1001.11(a) |
| Florida | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 102.141,166 |
| Georgia | State | N/A | Yes | 21-2-495,499 |
| Hawaii | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 11-158 |
| Idaho | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | Yes | 34-2301-2309 |
| Illinois | Requester | Maybe[13] | Yes | 5/22-9.1, 18 |
| Indiana | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3-12-11-1-10 |
| Iowa | State | N/A | No | 43.56 &50.48 |
| Kansas | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | Yes | 25-3107 |
| Kentucky | Requester | No | Yes | 120.017,095,185,250,280 |
| Louisiana | Requester | Yes | Yes | 18-1451 &1453 |
| Maine | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | No | 737-A |
| Maryland | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | Yes | 12-101-107 |
| Massachusetts | State | N/A | Yes | 54:135,A,B |
| Michigan | Requester | Yes | Yes | 168.879-894 |
| Minnesota | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | Yes | 204C.35-361 |
| Mississippi | No requested recounts | N/A | No | N/A |
| Missouri | Requester | Maybe[14] | No | 115.601 |
| Montana | State/Requester Depends on margin | Maybe[15] | No | 13-16-201-11 |
| Nebraska | Requester | Yes | Yes | 32-1119,1121 |
| Nevada | Requester | Yes | No | 293.403-405 |
| New Hampshire | State/Requester Depends on election type[16] | Varies[17] | No | 660:1-16 |
| New Jersey | Requester | Yes | Yes | 19:28-1,2,3 |
| New Mexico | Requester | Yes | Yes | 1-14-14 to 25 |
| New York | Unclear[18] | No | No | 9-208 |
| North Carolina | State | N/A | No | 163-182.7,182.7A |
| North Dakota | Requester | No | No | 16.1-16-01 |
| Ohio | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3515.01-072 |
| Oklahoma | Requester | Yes | Yes | 26-8-109 to 117 |
| Oregon | Requester | Yes | Yes | 258.006-300 |
| Pennsylvania | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3154g,3261-3 |
| Rhode Island | Unclear[19] | No | No | 17-19-37.1 |
| South Carolina | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 7-17-280 |
| South Dakota | State | N/A | Yes | 12-21-1 to 37 |
| Tennessee | No requested recounts | N/A | No | 2-17,18 |
| Texas | Requester | Yes | Yes | 211 to 216 |
| Utah | State/Requester Depends on requester[20] | No | No | 20A-4-401 |
| Vermont | State | N/A | No | 17-51-2601,2602 |
| Virginia | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | No | 8-24.2-800 to 802.3 |
| Washington | Requester | Yes | Yes | 29A.64 |
| West Virginia | Requester | Yes | Yes | 3-6-9 |
| Wisconsin | State/Requester Depends on margin | Yes | Yes | 9.01 &5.90 |
| Wyoming | Requester | Yes | No | 22-16-109 to 114 |
State legislation
The table below lists bills related to recounts introduced during (or carried over to) Indiana's regular legislative session this year. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page onBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
See also
- Election recount laws and procedures in the 50 states
- Voting in Indiana
- Indiana
- Voting methods and equipment by state
Footnotes
- ↑Indiana General Assembly, "3-12-11," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Indiana General Assembly, "IC 3-12-11-2Filing of verified petition," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Indiana General Assembly, "IC 3-12-12-4Signatures by voters; percentage," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Indiana General Assembly, "IC 3-12-11-10Cash deposit for payment of costs by petitioner; appointment of commission member proxy," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Indiana General Assembly, "IC 3-12-11-21Recount for legislative office; deadline; certification of results," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Indiana General Assembly, "IC 3-12-6-21.9Recount; date of completion; extension of deadline," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Verified Voting, "The Verifier - Election Day Equipment - November 2026," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑U.S. Election Assistance Commission, "Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, Volume 1, Version 1.0" accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑Roll Call, "Top 10 House Races: Only a Few Are Obvious," May 16, 2005
- ↑Verified Voting, "Arizona Recount Laws," accessed September 25, 2025
- ↑A court may ordera recount under Arizona law.
- ↑This category encompasses instances where the state government pays for recounts and those states where counties pay.
- ↑A recount alone cannot change the election results, but can be used to contest the election. At the end of that process, thecourt may choose not to levy costs against the prevailing party.
- ↑Recounts occur as part of a contested election. A requester may be required to cover costs before the start of such an event. The court may choose to require the unsuccessful party in a contested election to cover the costs, which could involve a refund to the requester if he or she is the successful party.
- ↑In the case of a court-ordered recount, candidates must pay, but will be refunded if the outcome changes. Regarding non-court-ordered recounts, state law does not mention whether the candidate is refunded in such a case.
- ↑The state covers requested recounts of statewide constitutional amendments. The requester covers all other recounts.
- ↑For local and county ballot measure elections, state law does not mention the possibility of a refund. For all other recounts, costs paid by the requester are refunded if the recount changes the election outcome.
- ↑No mention in state law.
- ↑No mention in state law.
- ↑The state pays for candidate-requested recounts. The requester pays for voter-requested recounts of ballot measures.
