A recount repeats vote tabulation for a specified contest under the applicable rules. An audit checks aspects of the election process or tabulation using the relevant method.
They are related to verification, but they are not the same procedure.
State rules determine the route
Thresholds, request rights, costs, timing, and methods vary. A close congressional race does not trigger one universal federal recount rule.
Use the responsible state's current official instructions. The Election Assistance Commission provides resources explaining audits and recounts, including recount guidance. Source: EAC audit and recount resources.
A request is not a completed recount
A candidate can announce an intention to request a recount. That does not establish that the request has been accepted, the process has begun, or the outcome will change.
Report each stage separately: request, applicable official decision, recount activity, and resulting record.
The same discipline applies to legal challenges. A filed claim is not a court finding.
Why an audit is different
An audit can examine selected records or other evidence under its design. A recount retabulates the relevant votes under the applicable procedure.
Do not describe every audit as a full manual recount of every ballot. Read the actual scope and method.
What a changed number means
If a recount adjusts a total, inspect the official explanation and revised result. A numerical change may or may not change the winner.
Likewise, a recount that confirms the outcome has a verification function even if the candidate ranking stays the same.
A hypothetical reporting example
A responsible update might say that Candidate A requested a recount and that the election office is reviewing the request under state rules.
A later story should identify the official recount totals and their effect. Predicting a reversal from the initial request would skip the evidence.
What readers should monitor
Follow the legal basis, deadline, scope, official notices, and final record. Preserve the distinction between campaigns' allegations and verified findings.
This guide explains the process. It does not claim that any particular 2026 contest requires or has completed a recount.
Related reading: certification and why results can take time.