Monday, November 28, 2016
4:59 PM
Elections Commission says recount will cost $3.5 million
The state Elections Commission said today a recount of the presidential election will cost nearly $3.5 million.
The commission has sent that cost estimate to the campaigns of Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent Rocky De La Fuente, both of whom are seeking a recount. Stein, De La Fuente or both would have to submit payment to cover the costs of the recount by 4:30 p.m. tomorrow for the process to move forward.
The Elections Commission reached the $3,499,689 figure after getting cost estimates from the state's 72 counties. The counties, Elections Commission Administrator Mike Haas noted, will have to hire thousands of workers to temporarily help with the recount.
During the commission's meeting today, Haas said the agency staff believes both Stein and De La Fuente have an equal obligation to cover the costs of the recount, though there are doubts both will make the required payment. Stein has been fundraising for the expected recount costs, while De La Fuente’s campaign did not return a call today on whether it’s prepared to make the required payment.
If both submit the full payment, Haas said, they would receive a refund of one-half the fee.
If the estimate of the recount costs is lower than actual costs, the campaigns would be on the hook for the additional cost.
If it came in below the estimate, the campaigns would receive a refund.
See the Elections Commission release on the timeline of the recount
See the Elections Commission release on the recount costs
See a spreadsheet detailing cost estimates by county
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