2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 13. Elections › Chapter 16. Recounts and Tie Votes › Part 2. Recounts in Close Elections › 13-16-201. Conditions under which recount to be conducted

13-16-201. Conditions under which recount to be conducted.
(1) A recount must be conducted if:
(a) a candidate for a precinct office or for a county, municipal, or district office voted for in only one county, other than a legislator or a judge of the district court, is defeated by a margin not exceeding 1/4 of 1% of the total votes cast or by a margin not exceeding 10 votes, whichever is greater, and the defeated candidate, within 5 days after the official canvass, files with the election administrator a verified petition stating that the candidate believes that a recount will change the result and that a recount of the votes for the office or nomination should be conducted;
(b) a candidate for a congressional office, a state or district office voted on in more than one county, the legislature, or judge of the district court is defeated by a margin not exceeding 1/4 of 1% of the total votes cast for all candidates for the same position and the defeated candidate, within 5 days after the official canvass, files a petition with the secretary of state as set forth in subsection (1)(a). The secretary of state shall immediately notify each election administrator whose county includes any precincts that voted for the office, and a recount must be conducted in those precincts.
(c) a question submitted to the vote of the people of a county, municipality, or district within a county is decided by a margin not exceeding 1/4 of 1% of the total votes cast for and against the question and a petition as set forth in subsection (1)(a) is filed with the election administrator. This petition must be signed by not less than 10 electors of the jurisdiction and must be filed within 5 days after the official canvass.
(d) a question submitted to the vote of the people of the state is decided by a margin not exceeding 1/4 of 1% of the total votes cast for and against the question and a petition as set forth in subsection (1)(a) is filed with the secretary of state. This petition must be signed by not less than 100 electors of the state, representing at least five counties of the state, and must be filed within 5 days after the official canvass.
(e) a question submitted to the vote of the people of a multicounty district is decided by a margin not exceeding 1/4 of 1% of the total votes cast for and against the question and a petition as set forth in subsection (1)(a) is filed with the secretary of state. This petition must be signed by not less than 25 electors of the district, representing at least two counties, and must be filed within 5 days after the official canvass.
(f) a canvassing board petitions for a recount as provided in 13-15-403.
(2) If the election is a school election, the petition is filed with the school election filing officer.
(3) When a recount is required under subsection (1)(b), (1)(d), or (1)(e), the secretary of state shall immediately notify each election administrator of the filing of the petition, and a recount must be conducted in all precincts in each affected county.
History: En. Sec. 192, Ch. 368, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 48, Ch. 365, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 23-4103(1) thru (4); amd. Sec. 171, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 19, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 56, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 64, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 58, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 336, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 347, L. 2013.