Source: https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1001.11.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 14:15:39+00:00

Document:
D.C. Law Library - § 1–1001.11. Recount; judicial review of election.
↪ § 1–1001.11. Recount; judicial review of election.
§ 1–1001.10. Dates for holding elections; votes cast for President and Vice President counted as votes for presidential electors; voting hours; tie votes; filling vacancy where elected official dies, resigns, or becomes unable to serve.
§ 1–1001.12. Interference with registration and voting.
§ 1–1001.11. Recount; judicial review of election.
(a)(1) The Board shall recount the votes cast in one or more voting precincts, if, within 7 days after the Board certifies the results of an election for an office, a candidate for that office petitions the Board in writing and specifies the precincts in which the recount shall be conducted. Before beginning the recount, the Board shall prepare an estimate of the costs and inform the petitioner of the anticipated number of hours needed to complete the recount and the cost per hour. The costs of the recount shall not include any payments associated for salaried election officials. If the petitioner chooses to proceed with the recount, the petitioner shall deposit the amount of $50 per precinct included in the recount. If the result of the election is changed as a result of the recount, the deposit shall be refunded. If the result is not changed, the Board shall determine the actual cost of the recount. The petitioner shall be liable for the actual cost of the recount and the Board may collect that cost from the deposit made with the petition.
(2) If in any election for President and Vice President of the United States, Delegate to the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Council, member of the Council, Mayor, Attorney General, or member of the State Board of Education, the results certified by the Board show a margin of victory for a candidate that is less than one percent of the total votes cast for the office, the Board shall conduct a recount. The cost of a recount conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall not be charged to any candidate.
(3) In the case of an initiative or referendum measure placed on the ballot pursuant to § 1-1001.16, or a recall measure placed on the ballot pursuant to § 1-1001.17, the Board shall conduct a recount if the difference between the number of votes for and against the initiative, referendum, or recall measure is less than one percent of the total votes cast.
(C) Ensure that each candidate for an office subject to a recount may designate watchers to be present while the recount is conducted, or in the case of an initiative, referendum, or recall measure, ensure that members of the public may be present while the recount is conducted.
(b)(1) Within 7 days after the Board certifies the results of an election, any person who voted in the election may petition the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to review the election. The Court’s authority to review the results of an election shall include initiative, referendum, and recall measures as well as elections for a particular office.
(B) Finds that there was any act or omission, including fraud, misconduct, or mistake serious enough to vitiate the election as a fair expression of the will of the registered qualified electors voting in the election.
(3) If the Court voids an election, it may order a special election, which shall be conducted in such a manner, and at such time, as the Board may prescribe.
(4) The decision of the Court in any case brought pursuant to this subsection shall be final and may not be appealed.
(5) The Court shall have the authority to require the losing party to reimburse the prevailing party for reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs associated with the case, but shall not exercise this authority if it finds that the reimbursement would impose an undue financial hardship on the losing party.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 20-60 substituted “Delegate to the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Council, member of the Council, Mayor, Attorney General” for “Delegate to the House of Representatives, Mayor, Chairman of the Council, member of the Council” in (a)(2).
The 2015 amendment by D.C. Law 20-167 substituted “or member of the State Board of Education” for “President of the Board of Education, or member of the Board of Education” in (a)(2).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(i) of Omnibus Election Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-236, November 30, 2009, 56 DCR 9154).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(c) of the Election Code Conforming Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-143, July 31, 2013, 60 DCR 11799, 20 DCSTAT 1990).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(e) of the Special Election Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2014 (D.C. Act 20-617, Jan. 28, 2015, 62 DCR 1908, 21 STAT 794).
Applicability of D.C. Law 20-60: Section 401(b) of 20-60 provided that § 301 of the act shall apply as of December 13, 2013.

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