The right to a fair and accurate election is a cornerstone of democracy. In Scottsdale, Arizona, the process for requesting a recount is governed by the Constitution of the State of Arizona, the Arizona Revised Statutes, the Statutes of the City of Scottsdale, and other applicable laws. This article will provide an overview of the recount process in Scottsdale, Arizona. The voting system used in Scottsdale, Arizona is determined by state law. This includes the main, accessible voting equipment used and any variations that may exist for absentee or provisional ballots.
In most cases, absentee ballots are counted by hand. The counting method chosen by the election official also varies by state. This method applies to votes cast on the main, accessible voting equipment and not to the way absentee and provisional ballots are counted. The people or circumstances that can cause a recount after the initial counting of votes include candidates, voters, election officials, courts, reduced voting margins or auditing results. In some states, candidates can request a recount only if there is a particular narrow margin of vote or if they are running for a particular office.
In other states, party officials can request a recount if the candidate doesn't. The funding for a recount initiated by a candidate or voter is obtained differently in each state. Some states charge the cost to a private individual while others pay for it with local or state public funds. Additionally, states provide guidance to the public to participate as observers and challengers in the counting process. The determination of voter intent is also handled differently in each state.
Some states provide definitions and guidance on how voter intent is determined by law while others use statutes to delegate authority to an office such as the Secretary of State or State Board of Elections. Other states do not delegate authority or provide guidance on how voter intent should be determined. In Scottsdale, Arizona, counts initiated by candidates differ from counts that describe themselves as a candidate (or those initiated by voters with a mandatory narrow voting margin). Election officials are legally required to begin the counting process in the first case regardless of the actions of candidates or voters. The term is also used more generally in the counting guide every time a small margin of votes comes into play for a recount. Voters in Scottsdale, Arizona can request recounts only if there is a particular narrow voting margin.
The law limits their ability to request a recount to times when there is a narrow voting margin. According to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, the counting center rules that apply to manual counting audits also apply to hand counts that are performed after each count with a reduced voting margin. Less than or equal to 0.5% automatically initiates a recount in Scottsdale, Arizona. There are no provisions for candidate-initiated counts in Arizona law and no provisions for voter-initiated recounts either. If you have any questions about requesting a recount in Scottsdale, Arizona elections, you can contact Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota at 2720 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55406.
