By Disha Raychaudhuri
(Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s campaign said on Wednesday it would immediately request a recount in Wisconsin, even though the state has not yet finalized its results. Both CNN and the Associated Press projected that Democrat Joe Biden won the key battleground state’s 10 electoral votes. Edison Research said the margin between Biden and Trump was less than 1 percentage point, meaning a candidate can request a recount.
Below is a roundup of recount laws in Wisconsin and some other battleground states:
NEVADA
Automatic recount: No
Recount law: A candidate who has been defeated can request a recount, regardless of the margin of victory.
Deadline: A recount must be requested within three business days after the state’s vote canvass.
Who pays: The candidate asking for the recount.
WISCONSIN
Automatic recount: No
Recount law: A full or partial recount can be requested if the margin of victory is less than or equal to 1 percentage point.
Deadline: For presidential elections, the request must be made by 5 p.m. on the first business day after the state’s vote canvass.
Who pays: The candidate requesting the recount, if the margin is more than 0.25 percentage point of the total vote.
MICHIGAN
Automatic recount: Yes
Recount law: A recount is required if the margin of victory is less than or equal to 2,000 votes.
Deadline: Request for a recount should be made within 48 hours of the vote canvass.
Who pays: The candidate requesting the recount.
PENNSYLVANIA
Automatic recount: Yes
Recount law: A recount is automatic if the margin of victory is less than or equal to 0.5 percentage point. Two other avenues for requesting recounts include requiring at least three voter signatures that attest to an error in the vote tally, and going to state court to file petitions alleging fraud and error.
Deadline: By 5 p.m. on the second Thursday following the election, for automatic recounts. If a recount is requested, the deadline is five days after the election.
Who pays: The candidate requesting the recount.
(Reporting by Disha Raychaudhuri; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Peter Cooney)
