Trump seeks recounts, but they might not change result

As Trump’s chances of winning the polls dim, he is likely to seek recount in all states where Biden’s victory margin could turn out to be narrow. A look at how a recount works in the US

The state allows a recount regardless of the margin if there is an allegation of fraud or mistake in specific districts. Trump was leading

Michigan

until counting of the postal votes started late on November 3. Trump’s lawsuit in the state has asked for counting to stop until his campaign is granted more observer access to counting sites. In 2016, he won the state by just over 10,000 votes or 0.3% but did not face a recount
WISCONSINBIDEN won by 0.7% or 20,535 votes

The state allows a recount when the winning margin is less than 1%. Trump has requested a recount in Wisconsin citing “irregularities in several counties”. He will need to pay for it but may be refunded if he wins. The new tally will be known within 13 days after a recount is ordered. In 2016, Trump won Wisconsin by a 0.7% margin

GEORGIATRUMP leading by 0.4% or 18,144 votes

Republicans

are likely to win Georgia despite the narrow lead. But about 200,000 votes, mainly in populous urban regions that vote Democrat usually, have not been counted. The state has a margin requirement of less than or equal to 0.5% for a recount. The Trump campaign has already alleged in a lawsuit that “late ballots” may have been included in the count

PENNSYLVANIATRUMP leading by 2.1% or 135,657 votes

The state focused on counting the walk-in votes first, giving Trump an early lead that shrank when postal votes were counted. About 600,000 votes remain uncounted as a court allowed it to receive postmarked ballots up to three days after the election. The Trump campaign is expected to challenge this extension. There is no margin requirement for a recount and one is triggered automatically if the margin is less than 0.5%. In 2016, Trump had won the state by 0.7%

Other likely battlesNORTH CAROLINATRUMP leading by 1.4% or 76,701 votes

With under 300,000 votes left to count, North Carolina is expected to go to Trump. But his margin could fall as counting is on in many traditionally Democratic counties.

Also, the state is accepting postmarked ballots until November 12.

If the margin drops below 10,000 votes or 0.5%, whichever is lower, Trump can request a recount

ARIZONABIDEN won by 2.4% or 68,390 votes

There are about 500,000 votes left to count, but Associated Press has called the state for Biden. While many of the uncounted votes are from urban counties that generally vote Democrat, Trump is winning enough votes among them to keep the race tight. More results are expected late on November 5, eastern time. Arizona law triggers an automatic recount if the margin is 0.1% or less but candidates cannot request recounts. Trump’s campaign is considering legal action in the state

NEVADABIDEN leading by 0.6% or 7,647 votes

Though Biden has maintained his lead in Nevada, Trump could still win with about 200,000 votes yet to be counted. If Nevada stays with Biden by a narrow margin, Trump could ask for a recount as the state does not have a margin criterion. Republicans are also challenging the state’s November 10 deadline for postmarked ballots to arrive

SC saved Bush from a recount in 2000

The US has had a few close presidential races, but the Bush-Gore contest of 2000 stands out.

After a closely fought election, the final decision came down to Florida. Republican

George W Bush

had an initial lead but it was so small that it triggered a mandatory machine recount, which further narrowed his lead over Democrat Al Gore to a few hundred votes. Gore sought a manual count in a few counties and the Florida Supreme Court ordered a manual recount of all state votes.

Bush then moved the Supreme Court, which stopped the manual recount, thereby handing Florida to him by a margin of 537 votes. The decision was controversial because most of the judges against the recount were appointed by Republican presidents while those who favoured it were all Democratic appointees.

Six of the nine US Supreme Court judges now are Republican appointees and Trump has said he will count on the court to decide the election in case of a dispute.

Note: Wins and leads as of Nov 5, 9pm IST; Source: Ballotpedia, AP, NYT, media reports