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HomeElections CodeDiv. 15Ch. 9Art. 3§ 15624 Recount Cost Deposit Rules

§ 15624 Recount Cost Deposit Rules

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

§ 15624 Recount Cost Deposit Rules

If you ask for a vote recount, you have to put money up front each day to pay for it, and you get that money back if the recount shows you actually won or changes who gets on the next ballot.

Key Takeaways

  • •You must deposit money each day before the recount begins to cover the cost.
  • •If the recount shows the requested candidate or measure actually had the most votes, the deposited money is returned.
  • •Any extra money you put down is refunded; otherwise, the money stays in the public treasury.

Example

Jane thinks her friend lost a city council race by a handful of votes, so she asks for a recount and deposits $300 each day for the recount costs.

Jane pays the daily recount fee before the recount starts. After the recount, it turns out her friend actually had the most votes, so the money Jane paid is returned to her. If the recount had not changed the result, the money would stay with the government.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 15624 Recount Cost Deposit Rules

The voter or the campaign committee, as defined in Section 82013 of the Government Code, represented by the voter filing the request seeking the recount shall, before the recount is commenced and at the beginning of each day following, deposit with the elections official a sum as required by the elections official to cover the cost of the recount for that day. The money deposited shall be returned to the depositor if, upon completion of the recount, the candidate, slate of presidential electors, or the position on the measure (affirmative or negative) for which the declaration is filed is found to have received the plurality of votes cast which it had not received according to the official canvass or, in an election where there are two or more candidates, the recount results in the candidate for whom the recount was requested appearing on the ballot in a subsequent runoff election or general election who would not have so appeared in the absence of the recount. The depositor shall be entitled to the return of any money deposited in excess of the cost of the recount if the candidate, slate, or position on the measure has not received the plurality of the votes cast or, in an election where there are two or more candidates, the recount does not result in the candidate for whom the recount was requested appearing on the ballot in a subsequent runoff or general election as a result of the recount. Money not required to be refunded shall be deposited in the appropriate public treasury. (Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 904, Sec. 1. (AB 2369) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

electionfinepluralitypositioncompletiondeclaration

Related Statutes

  • § 15620 Recount Request Deadlines
  • § 10603 School Board Candidate Filing
  • § 18568 Election Ballot Tampering Penalties
  • § 15621 Statewide Election Recount Requests
  • § 15621.5 Manual Recount Consolidation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 15624.
View Official Source