Recount laws in Oklahoma
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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.
Oklahoma law does not allow for automatic recounts. Any candidate can request a recount, regardless of margin. A voter can request a recount of a non-statewide ballot measure under certain circumstances. The requester must pay the costs of a 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 Oklahoma.[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 by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday after the election. There is no margin required for a candidate-requested recount. Requirements for voter-requested recounts of non-statewide ballot measures vary and can be foundbelow. There is no deadline for completion.
- 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. A requester can receive a refund if the amount paid was greater than the actual cost of the recount.
- Can a partial recount be requested?
- Yes.
Oklahoma recount procedures
Automatic recount procedures
Oklahoma does not require automatic recounts.
Requested recount procedures
Any candidate whose name appeared on the ballot may request a recount of that election regardless of the margin.[2]
A voter may request a recount of any non-statewide ballot measure election. The request can only be made under the following circumstances:[3]
- For measures requiring a simple majority vote:
- The number of total votes cast is 15,000 or more: the margin between votes for and against the measure must be less than or equal to 150.
- The number of total votes cast is 14,999 or less: the margin between votes for and against the measure must be less than or equal to 1% of the total votes cast.
- For measures requiring more than a simple majority vote:
- The number of total votes cast is 15,000 or more: the margin between votes for the measure and the number required for approval must be less than or equal to 150.
- The number of total votes cast is 14,999 or less: the margin between votes for the measure and the number required for approval must be less than or equal to 1% of the total votes cast.
When making the request, the voter must submit a petition signed by 150 registered voters who participated in the election, when the total number of votes cast on the measure is greater than 15,000. When the total number is fewer than 14,999, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters who participated in the election equal to 1% of the total votes cast on the measure.
The deadline to request a recount is no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday following the election.[2] For both candidates and voters, the requester is responsible for costs associated with the recount unless the recount changes the election outcome, in which case the costs are refunded. If the recount does not change the election outcome, the requester may receive a refund if the costs paid were greater than the cost of the recount.[4] State law does not specify a deadline for the completion of such requested recounts.[1]
Election officials may also conduct a recount on Election Night if certain issues are detected such as malfunctioning voting equipment or a gap between ballots cast and voters who voted is greater than or equal to 2%.[5] The State Election Board may also direct counties to conduct Election Night recounts in the event of unanticipated issues.[6]
For more information regarding recount procedures in Oklahoma,click here.[7]
Oklahoma voting equipment
Oklahoma uses hand-marked paper ballots for its elections. The state uses a direct recording assistive interface for accessibility.[8]
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[11] | 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[12] | 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[13] | No | 115.601 |
| Montana | State/Requester Depends on margin | Maybe[14] | 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[15] | Varies[16] | 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[17] | 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[18] | 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[19] | 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) Oklahoma'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, 2020
- Voting in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma
- Voting methods and equipment by state
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1Oklahoma State Statutes, "26-8-109 to117," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑2.02.1Justia, "26 OK Stat § 26-8-109 (2024)," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑Justia, "26 OK Stat § 8-111 (2024)," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑Justia, "26 OK Stat § 8-117 (2024)," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑Justia, "26 OK Stat § 7-134.1," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑Legal Information Institute, "230:35-3-85.1. Election night recounts," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑Specifically, 26-8-111 to 26-8-117.
- ↑Verified Voting, "The Verifier - Election Day Equipment - November 2026," accessed September 24, 2025
- ↑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.
