State Summary
Delaware statute specifies different thresholds to trigger automatic recounts, depending on the election type and contest (See “Close Vote Margin Options” for more). For state legislative and county offices, a recount occurs automatically if the margin of victory is less than 1,000 votes or 0.5% of all votes cast for the two candidates, whichever is less. Candidates for statewide office can request a recount for their contest. Voters can also request a recount for school board contests and ballot measures. State statute does not specify a completion deadline for recounts. Statute does not provide guidance on the counting method for recounts, although in practice, ballots are counted by hand.
Counting Method
No statutory guidance provided for counting method
Although state statute and rule does not specify a counting method for recounts, in practice, all ballots are hand counted.
Initiating Mechanisms
Close vote margin
Candidate-initiated
Voter-initiated
Court-ordered
Court-Ordered Recounts: Nonmunicipal, general election recounts in Delaware are conducted under the authority of the Superior Court of each county, acting as the board of canvass, to which all related election materials, including voting machine tapes and tally records, are submitted at the end of each general election. See Title 15 of the Delaware Code (15 DE Code) § 5701.
The Court is required to inspect these documents, and if “the documents produced do not agree or there is a complaint under oath of fraud or mistake in any such document, or if fraud, mistake or omission is apparent on the face of such document, the Court shall: (1) Open and examine the necessary voting machines and/or absentee ballot boxes; (2) Make a recount of the votes contained therein; (3) Correct any fraud, mistake or omission in any document or paper relating to the election.” 15 DE Code § 5702(b).
Timing: There is no timing specified for the beginning or end of the recount. The delivery of election materials to the court is specified in 15 DE Code § 5701 and § 5702.
Close Vote Margin Options
Less than or equal to 0.5%
Vote count difference (not percentage-based)
Initiated automatically
The requirements for a close-vote-margin recount vary by office and type of election.
For statewide offices in a general election:
“Any candidate for statewide office in a general election may apply to the Court for a recount of all the ballots cast and recorded for such office if the number of votes separating such candidate and the closest opposing candidate is less than 1,000 votes or less than one half of one percent of all votes cast for the two candidates, whichever amount is less. Such recount shall thereupon be conducted by the Court at state expense.” 15 DE Code § 5702(c).
For State Senator, State Representatives or county offices in general elections:
“If the number of votes separating a candidate and the closest opposing candidate in an election for State Senator, State Representative, or county office is less than 1,000 votes or 1/2 of 1% of all votes cast for the 2 candidates, whichever is less, the Court shall recount the ballots cast in that election at state expense.” 15 DE Code § 5702(e).
For primary elections:
“If the number of votes separating a candidate and the closest opposing candidate in a primary election is less than 1,000 votes, in the case of a statewide contest, or half of 1% of all votes cast for the 2 candidates, in the case of any other contest, whichever is less, the Department shall recount the ballots cast in that election at state expense as part of the canvass of the vote.” 15 DE Code § 3172(e).
For municipal elections:
The municipal Board of Elections shall recount the ballots if the difference between the top 2 candidates is 1/2 of 1% or less than the total votes cast for the office. Where electors vote for more than 1 candidate for an office, the municipal Board of Elections shall recount the ballots if the difference between the last candidate elected and the next closest candidate is 1/2 of 1% or less than the total votes cast for the office. 15 DE Code § 7558(c). Municipal elections in the City of Wilmington, are conducted in conformity with most of the recount provisions governing general elections. 15 DE Code § 7521.
For ballot measures and school board elections:
“Within 96 hours following the certification of a public school election, 25 or more persons who voted in the aforesaid public school election may petition the Department of Elections that conducted the election for a recompilation of the results, if the difference in the election of a school board member or in an election conducted in accordance with Chapter 19, 20 or 21 [regarding school tax levies and school bonds] of this title was less than 10 votes or 1/2 of 1 percent of the total vote whichever is larger.” “The Department of Elections that conducted the elections shall: (1) Examine the voting machine tape from each voting machine used in the election and determine if the results were properly reported. The department shall then correct any results that were incorrectly reported. (2) Examine the absentee vote tally sheets and determine if errors were made in reporting the absentee vote. The department shall then correct any errors in the reporting of the absentee votes. (3) Count or cause to be counted all absentee ballots that were cast in the election and correct any errors in the tally that had been reported.” 14 DE Code § 1083(e).
Timing: For court ordered recounts for candidates for statewide office, see 15 DE Code § 5702(c). For primary election recounts, see 15 DE Code § 3172(e). For ballot measures and school board elections, see 14 DE Code § 1083(e).
Candidate-Initiated Options
Close vote margin required
Specific offices only
Any candidate for statewide office in a general election may petition the Court and receive a recount if the difference separating that candidate and the closest opposing candidate is “less than 1,000 votes or less than one half of one percent of all votes cast for the two candidates, whichever amount is less.” 15 DE Code § 5702(c).
Timing: 15 DE Code § 5702(c).
Voter-Initiated Options
Close vote margin required
Voters may request recounts for offices
Voters may request recounts for initiatives/questions
When a close-vote margin exists, voters may petition for recounts on school board races and on ballot measures relating to public school elections such as tax levies and bond issues. See the entry for ballot measures and school board elections under close-vote-margin recounts above.
Timing: 14 DE Code § 1083(e).
Cost for Candidate-Initiated Recounts
Paid entirely by state/county
Recounts initiated by candidates for statewide office are to be “conducted by the Court at state expense.” 15 DE Code § 5702(c).
Cost for Voter-Initiated Recounts
No guidance
The statute authorizing voters to initiate public school election recounts does not specify costs to voters for such recounts. 14 DE Code § 1083(e).
Challengers and Observers
No guidance
While candidates and “any duly accredited challenger” are allowed to observe the initial count immediately after the polls close, state statute does not specify whether observers or challengers are permitted at a recount. However, for court-ordered recounts conducted under 15 DE Code § 5702(b)(2) the Court “shall publicly [emphasis added] ascertain the state of the election throughout the county.” According to Delaware election officials, in practice, recounts are open to the public and challengers are permitted.
Rules for Determining Voter Intent
Rules for determining voter intent are found in 15 DE Code § 4972 and 14 DE Code § 1080.
Resources
14 DE Code § 1080
14 DE Code § 1083
15 DE Code § 3172
15 DE Code § 4972
15 DE Code § 5701
15 DE Code § 5702
15 DE Code § 7521
15 DE Code § 7558