Natalie Haag, the governor's chief counsel, confirmed the proposed bill is being drafted but said she is waiting to consult with the governor as to how far down the ballot he wants such an automatic recount requirement to apply. The state's chief election officer, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, told the Senate Elections and Local Government Committee on Tuesday that he opposes an automatic recount law. Kansas doesn't have a law requiring a recount if the difference in votes between candidates reaches a certain threshold. Audio interview Listen to audio from Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh on his plan for election changes. Kansas learned something from the Florida recount Click here to download RealPlayer.
State law provides that a recount can be requested by anyone.
Losing candidates in close races usually are the ones who request a recount. The person making the request must post a bond with local officials sufficient to cover the cost of the recount. If the recount overturns the outcome of the election, the county pays for the retabulation. If the outcome remains the same, even if the recount changes the vote totals, the person requesting the recount forfeits the bond. Thornburgh, a fellow Republican who succeeded Graves as secretary of state in 1994 when Graves was elected governor, said he was willing to work with the governor and the committee on the automatic recount legislation.