Question: who pays for a recount in an election

title: Election recount
text: Recounts can be mandatory or optional . In some jurisdictions , recounts are mandatory in the event the difference between the top two candidates is less than a percentage of votes cast or of a fixed number . Mandatory recounts are paid for by the elections official , or the state . Mandatory recounts can usually be waived by the apparent losing candidate . The winning side will usually encourage the loser to waive the recount in a show of unity and to avoid spending taxpayer money . 

Answer: answer: Recounts can be mandatory or optional.  Mandatory recounts are paid for by the elections official, or the state.