Riley Vetterkind, @email
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Elections Commission has received verified canvass statements from all 72 Wisconsin counties for the November 8 General Election, concluding an important stage of verification in the process and starting the clock for statewide candidates to petition for a recount.
The clock already expired to request a recount in all State Senate and State Assembly contests that are within the recount range because the counties within those districts completed their canvass last week. The WEC did not receive any petitions for recount in a State Assembly or State Senate seat.
Statewide candidates (meaning state and federal candidates appearing on General Election ballots in all 72 Wisconsin counties) have until Friday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. to request a recount according to the procedures required by state statute. There is no automatic recount, even if the unofficial results are close. More information about the process for requesting and conducting a recount is available here: https://elections.wi.gov/resources/manuals/recount-manual
Recounts for the statewide offices on the General Election ballot would be filed with the WEC. If the vote totals from the completed county canvasses for such two-candidate contests are separated by 1% or less, the candidate trailing the leading candidate has the right to petition for a recount. There is no cost to the petitioning candidate if the difference between the leading candidate and the petitioner is 0.25% or less. If the difference is more than 0.25%, the WEC will estimate the cost, which must be paid before the recount begins. In the recount petition, the petitioner must indicate the jurisdictions where they seek a recount, as well as provide pre-payment for the recount based upon the cost estimate compiled by the WEC.
The Secretary of State contest is within the recount range, but it does not qualify for a free recount.
Verified county canvass results are available here: https://elections.wi.gov/2022-general-election-unofficial-statewide-results.
State and federal election results remain unofficial until the completion of any recount, state canvass, and associated determinations/certifications.
For state and federal elections, the county boards of canvassers for the counties in which the contested votes are cast conduct the recount. If a recount petition is filed and accepted, the recount would begin no earlier than 9 a.m. on the day following delivery of notice to all candidates and no later than 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26.
WEC chairperson Don Millis has until Dec. 1 to certify the state and federal results.