In what conditions can a candidate request a recount in a close result, do returning officers have any guidelines?

9 December 2019

Recounts are essentially at the discretion of the Returning Officer (the person who oversees the election in each constituency). They use guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission. Candidates and their agents are entitled to request recounts. A Returning Officer must consider any recount request but may by law refuse it if they deem it "unreasonable".

 

This article is part of our Ask Full Fact series on the 2019 general election, answering your questions about the election, from claims the main parties are making to what happens on polling day.

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