State Summary

Arizona statute provides for an automatic recount when the margin separating the two leading candidates in a contest is less than or equal to 0.5%. Neither candidates nor voters can request recounts. State law does not specify a completion deadline for recounts. Recounts in Arizona are conducted through a mix of hand counting and retabulation (see “Close Vote Margin Options” section for details).

Counting Method

Required hand count of a sample of ballots in addition to other counting methods
Mix of hand count and retabulation

In a state primary, state general, or state special election, ballots from the race to be recounted will be retabulated. A.R.S. § 16-664.

See the hand count provisions under Close Vote Margin Options below.

Initiating Mechanisms

Close vote margin

Close Vote Margin Options

Less than or equal to 0.5%
Initiated automatically

“A recount of the vote is required when the canvass of returns in a primary or general election shows that the margin between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for a particular office, or between the number of votes cast for and against initiated or referred measures or proposals to amend the Constitution of Arizona, is less than or equal to one-half of one percent of the number of votes cast for both such candidates or on such measures or proposals.” A.R.S. § 16-661(A).

“When the court orders a recount of votes which were cast and tabulated on electronic voting equipment, such recount shall be pursuant to section 16-664. On completion of the recount, and for legislative, statewide and federal candidate races only, the county chairmen of the political parties entitled to continued representation on the ballot or the chairman's designee shall select at random without the use of a computer five per cent of the precincts for the recounted race for a hand count, and if the results of that hand count when compared to the electronic tabulation of that same race are less than the designated margins calculated pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-602 the recount is complete and the electronic tabulation is the official result. If the hand count results in a difference that is equal to or greater than the designated margin for that race, the procedure established in section 16-602, subsections C, D, E and F applies.” A.R.S. § 16-663(B).

Note that the hand count audit, as part of the recount, requires that the political parties participate in the count. If they do not, then the hand count audit does not occur. See the 2022 Arizona general election recount information posted here.

Timing: A.R.S. § 16-663(A). “The superior court …shall forthwith make and enter an order requiring a recount of the votes….”

Candidate-Initiated Options

There are no provisions for candidate-initiated recounts in Arizona law.

Voter-Initiated Options

There are no provisions for voter-initiated recounts in Arizona law.

Cost for Candidate-Initiated Recounts

There are no provisions for candidate-initiated recounts in Arizona law.

Cost for Voter-Initiated Recounts

There are no provisions for voter-initiated recounts in Arizona law.

Challengers and Observers

Party/candidate/initiator may appoint observers; no guidance on challengers; recount is public

According to the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State, the counting center rules that apply to hand count audits also apply to those hand counts that occur after every close-vote-margin recount.

The county chairman of each political party shall designate and provide the required number of election board members who shall perform the hand count under the supervision of the county officer in charge of elections. A.R.S. § 16-602(B)(7).

According to A.R.S. § 16-621(A) "All proceedings at the counting center shall be …. under the observation of representatives of each political party and the public."

Rules for Determining Voter Intent

Hand Count Board members must reach a unanimous decision as to voter intent. If the Hand Count Board members are unable to reach a unanimous decision in a particular race, the officer in charge of elections must make the final determination of voter intent. A.R.S. § 16-602(G) and the Arizona Elections Procedures Manual, page 240.

Resources

Arizona Revised Statutes - Title 16 - Elections
Arizona Elections Procedures Manual
Arizona Secretary of State