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HomeElections CodeDiv. 15Ch. 9Art. 3§ 15621 Statewide Election Recount Requests

§ 15621 Statewide Election Recount Requests

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

§ 15621 Statewide Election Recount Requests

This law lets any voter ask for a recount of statewide election votes, but only during a short five‑day window that starts 31 days after the election.

Key Takeaways

  • •A recount request must be filed in writing with the Secretary of State.
  • •The request can only be made during a five‑day window that starts on the 31st day after a statewide election.
  • •The request must name the county (or counties) and the specific candidate, slate, or measure position, and the Secretary of State forwards it to the county officials; all other recount rules still apply.

Example

A voter sees that the governor race was decided by just a few hundred votes and wants to be sure the count is correct.

The voter writes a request to the Secretary of State within the five‑day period beginning on the 31st day after the election, says which county’s votes should be recounted and names the candidate (or measure) they’re concerned about. The Secretary of State then mails the request to the county election officials, and the recount is carried out under the normal recount rules.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 15621 Statewide Election Recount Requests

(a) Following completion of the official canvass any voter may, within five days beginning on the 31st day after a statewide election, file with the Secretary of State a written request for a recount of the votes cast for candidates for any statewide office or for or against any measure voted on statewide. The request filed pursuant to this section shall specify in which county or counties the recount is sought and shall specify on behalf of which candidate, slate of electors, or position on a measure (affirmative or negative) it is filed. (b) The Secretary of State shall forthwith send by registered mail one copy of the request to the elections official of each county in which a recount of the votes is sought. (c) All the other provisions of this article apply to recounts conducted under this section. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 479, Sec. 11. (AB 1762) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

recountSecretary of Statestatewide electionwritten requestcounty or countiescandidateslate of electorsposition on a measure

Related Statutes

  • § 15628 Recount Notice Requirements
  • § 15621.5 Manual Recount Consolidation
  • § 15623 Recount Request Expansion
  • § 15625 Recount Board Procedures
  • § 15626 Recount Timeline Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 15621.
View Official Source