How Much do Recounts Change Election Results?
Election offices in Virginia's 5th Congressional district are working today on a recount of June's Republican primary, where Rep. Bob Good trails State Senator John McGuire by 374 votes. Virginia has not had a recount for a Congressional election in recent memory, but a look at recounts in state legislative races shows how the vote tally can change.
VPAP only used results for recounts in general elections from November 2017 onward. Since November 2017 all localities in Virginia have used paper ballots, after the State Board of Elections decertified direct-recording electronic machines (DREs). Recounts in which DREs were used only re-tally the total votes on the machine rather than recounting the paper ballots physically cast by voters.
| Election | Winner | Certified Ballots | Certified Vote Margin | Margin After Recount | Outcome Changed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nov. 2017 HD 28 | Bob Thomas (R) | 23,647 | 82 | 73 (−9) | No |
Nov. 2017 HD 40 | Tim Hugo (R) | 30,163 | 106 | 99 (−7) | No |
Nov. 2017 HD 68 | Dawn Adams (D) | 39,232 | 336 | 347 (11) | No |
Nov. 2017 HD 94 | David Yancey (R) | 23,896 | 10 | 0 (−10) | Yes* |
Nov. 2019 HD 83 | Nancy Guy (D) | 21,954 | 27 | 41 (14) | No |
Nov. 2021 HD 85 | Karen Greenhalgh (R) | 28,486 | 127 | 115 (−12) | No |
Nov. 2021 HD 91 | A.C. Cordoza (R) | 27,836 | 94 | 64 (−30) | No |
Nov. 2023 HD 82 | Kim Taylor (R) | 28,494 | 78 | 53 (−25) | No |
Jun. 2024 CD 5 | John McGuire (R) | 62,792 | 374 | ?Unknown | ? |
Notes
- * – Recount resulted in a tie. The election was decided by a random name drawing, resulting in Yancey taking office.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Elections and VPAP research. Excludes recounts for special elections and General Assembly primaries.