What are the laws on this? Can anyone force a recount if they raise enough money?
candidate has standing to file for a recount in any precinct. There are no requirements other than being a candidate for the office being recounted.
There is also a provision for a mandatory recount in a statewide race that is closer than 0.25%. This does not apply since, Bush's margin is about 10 times that.
The candidate filing for the recount must deposit $10 per precinct that is recounted. Each county election board determines its costs for conducting the recount and divides by the number of precincts to determine a per precinct charge. This is limited be between $5 and $10 per precinct. Any difference between the $10 depost and the cost per precinct is returned to the candidate who filed for the recount (this is not a joke, it's the law).
If a recount candidate increases his vote total by 4% in a precinct, the recount for that precinct is free. If a recount candidate takes the lead after the recount, the whole recount is free.
Bush, Kerry, Badnarik, and Peroutka were on the ballot in Ohio. Nader was on the ballot, but then was riuled off it. There was a space where his name would have been on at least some ballots and he is listed as "Candidate Disqualifed" on the canvass report. In addition Ohio permits a candidate to file as write-in candidate. In addition to Cobb, there were 5 others. Presidential write-in candidates are required to file a slate of electors (20 for Ohio).
According to unofficial results on the Secretary of State's web site, Cobb received 24 votes statewide. The 5-other write-in candidates collectively received a total of 24 votes statewide (including 2 who receive 0 votes). So that means 48 votes for 120 elector candidates.
Of Cobb's votes, only 7 came from a county with a large city in it. He received 7 from Montgomery (Dayton). He did not receive any votes in Hamilton (Cincinnati), Frankilin (Columbus), Lucas (Toledo), Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Summit (Akron) or Trumbull (Youngstown).
A filing for a recount may not occur until the final statewide canvas is compelte (it hasn't yet). All candidates will be informed of the time and place of the recount, and are entitled to have representatives. It will be interesting if Cobb can find enough people.
