As you may have heard, the Stein campaign's request to recount the votes in Pennsylvania have run into a million-dollar roadblock. This does not mean that Stein et al. are abandoning the process; indeed, they have filed for redress in a federal court, stating that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's criteria and costs for recounting are outlandishly high.
So I wondered, what would a recount in Texas cost? Texas has about twice the population of Pennsylvania and a long tradition of one-party rule. It is not known as a voter-friendly state.
In Title 13, Chapter 212, Subchapter E of the Texas Election Code, we find an answer of sorts. (Subchapter E begins on page 19 of the PDF.) As in Pennsylvania, the "deposit" required is equal to 100% of the estimated cost of the recount.
So I wondered, what would a recount in Texas cost? Texas has about twice the population of Pennsylvania and a long tradition of one-party rule. It is not known as a voter-friendly state.
In Title 13, Chapter 212, Subchapter E of the Texas Election Code, we find an answer of sorts. (Subchapter E begins on page 19 of the PDF.) As in Pennsylvania, the "deposit" required is equal to 100% of the estimated cost of the recount.
Sec. 212.112. AMOUNT OF DEPOSIT. The amount of the recount deposit is:
(1) $60 for each precinct in which regular paper ballots were used; and
(2) $100 for each precinct in which an electronic voting system was used.
Imagine that you are running for a countywide office in Harris County (not difficult for Yours Truly—done that). Harris has just over 1,000 voting precincts, all of which use electronic voting systems. Just for Harris County, we are already talking about more than $100,000.
Almost every county has at least four precincts, and the large urban counties have hundreds. Dallas County, for example, has 797. Although precincts do not have anywhere near equal populations, one can estimate that the statewide total would be five or six times that, since Harris County contains about a sixth of the state's population. So it might end up being cheaper than Pennsylvania's asking price.
Almost every county has at least four precincts, and the large urban counties have hundreds. Dallas County, for example, has 797. Although precincts do not have anywhere near equal populations, one can estimate that the statewide total would be five or six times that, since Harris County contains about a sixth of the state's population. So it might end up being cheaper than Pennsylvania's asking price.
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