No more automatic recounts

Minnesotans might see fewer election recounts, if a bill headed for the House floor becomes law.

Sponsored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), HF561 would eliminate automatic recounts of state and federal elections. It would also change the vote thresholds for elections to be recounted at taxpayer expense.

The House Government Operations and Elections Committee approved the bill and sent it to the House floor. There is no Senate companion.

Under the provisions, publicly funded recounts would still be available for state and federal elections if the vote difference between the winner and loser fall within a certain threshold. The change would be that the losing candidate must request the recount.

Currently, state and federal elections that fall within the threshold trigger the recounts automatically. For local elections, the losing candidate already must request a recount.

In addition, the bill would narrow the threshold of the difference in candidates’ votes that qualifies for a publicly funded recount. Under the new provisions, the threshold for most state and federal and some local races would fall from 0.5 percent to 0.25 percent.

Beth Fraser, director of governmental affairs for the Office of the Secretary of State, called it a “common-sense bill.” She said an automatic recount was triggered last year in a judicial primary where neither candidate wanted one. Losing candidates can waive their right to a recount via a written request, but she said in this case the candidate didn’t bother to do so.

Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) said he didn’t think one judicial race justified changing the law. He said he is more comfortable with the current standard, which does a better job of protecting voter intent.