Campaign 2012

Cost of Montana recount will top $100,000

Posted: Nov 15, 2012 2:26 PM by Q2 News
Updated: Nov 15, 2012 2:47 PM

BILLINGS - The Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction race was decided by just 2,264 votes.

Now challenger Sandy Welch has to decide whether or not she wants to pay for a recount.

Welch trails incumbant Denise Juneau by .483%, just under the .50% threshold to ask for a recount. But the margin is large enough she is responsible for the cost of a recount.

Today the Secretary of State's office projected the cost to be $114,798.

Yellowstone County Election Administrator Bret Rutherford told Q2 News today it would take over $20,000 and at least 5 business days to complete a Yellowstone County recount.

All of the ballots must be hand counted in a recount. Welch has stated she wants to move forward with the recount.

She will have 5 days to decide after all of the votes in Montana have been canvassed the final week of November.