Racine County’s recent election history includes multiple tight races that resulted in recounts. The last recount was in the 2012 state Senate recall race, in which John Lehman defeated Van Wanggaard by 819 votes. The recount — the third of three recounts between 2011 and 2012 — cost Racine County taxpayers about $5,400. A proposed state law change would shift more of the cost to the candidates. Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen and the county’s Government Services Committee favor the change, saying it would close the gap between the fees charged to candidates and the county’s actual costs.
In the Senate race, Wanggaard paid roughly $600, Christensen said — far less than what it cost the county to do the recount.
Under current law, the petitioning candidate pays $5 per ward if the vote margin is between half percent and 2 percent. The proposal calls for raising those fees to $25. It also tightens the threshold for free recounts and dictates candidates pay the full cost if the margin is 1 percent or more, instead of the 2 percent required now.
Full Article: County favors state bill to shift recount costs.