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HomeElections CodeDiv. 15Ch. 9Art. 2§ 15610 Precinct Ballot Recount Rules

§ 15610 Precinct Ballot Recount Rules

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 15610 Precinct Ballot Recount Rules

This law lets an elections official order a public recount of the ballots in a precinct when they think the count is wrong and the board members can't explain the results, as long as no election contest is already happening.

Key Takeaways

  • •An official can order a public recount only if no election contest is already pending.
  • •The official must have a good reason to think the ballots were counted wrong.
  • •The official must question the board members under oath, and they must be unable to explain the vote totals.

Example

In a small town, the elections official notices that the vote totals for a precinct look off. The precinct board members are sworn in and can't explain why the numbers are what they are.

Because there is no ongoing legal challenge about the election, the official can tell the precinct to do a public recount of all the ballots to make sure the count is correct.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 15610 Precinct Ballot Recount Rules

If no election contest is pending wherein a recount of the ballots in a precinct has been or will be ordered, the elections official may order that the ballots voted in the precinct be publicly recounted if both of the following apply: (a) The elections official has reasonable cause to believe the ballots in the precinct have been miscounted. (b) The elections official has examined, under oath, the precinct board members or, in the case of ballots counted by a central counting system, the counting board members, and they are unable to explain the returns of their respective precincts. (Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

election contestpublicly recountedreasonable causemiscountedprecinct board memberscounting board members

Related Statutes

  • § 15202 Ballot Transport Requirements
  • § 15600 Election Recount Procedures
  • § 15601 Ballot Recount Procedures
  • § 15620 Recount Request Deadlines
  • § 15621 Statewide Election Recount Requests

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 15610.
View Official Source