Bexar County Recall and Recount Guidelines
Recall & recount guidelines for Bexar County
This page explains two separate processes: recalls (removing an elected official from office before their term ends) and recounts (re-tabulating votes to verify an election result). Both are rare, but it helps to know how they work.
Recount deadlines are very short, often just 2 to 5 days after canvass, so we’ve highlighted time-sensitive information below.
Quick facts
Recounts have tight deadlines
A regular recount must be requested by 5 PM on the 5th day after Election Day (or 2nd day after canvass, whichever is later). An expedited recount deadline is even shorter.
Recounts require a deposit
$60 per precinct (paper ballots) or $100 per precinct (electronic). If the recount changes the outcome, you get a full refund.
Recalls only apply to some officials
In Texas, recall is only available in home-rule cities and other political subdivisions whose charter specifically authorizes it. State officials cannot be recalled.
A recount is not an election contest
A recount only re-tabulates votes. It does not review voter qualifications, re-examine ballots for fraud, or go as far as a legal challenge in court.
Recall Elections in Texas
In a recall election, voters can remove an elected official from office before their term ends. Unlike some states, Texas has no statewide recall law. Recall is only available where a local charter specifically authorizes it.
Who can be recalled?
- Elected officials in home-rule cities whose city charter includes recall provisions
- Officials in other political subdivisions (like water districts) if their charter allows it
- Texas state officials (Governor, legislators, etc.) cannot be recalled, because Texas has no state-level recall law
- County officials generally cannot be recalled (counties do not have charters in Texas)
How does a recall work?
- Check the charter: Make sure your city or jurisdiction’s charter includes a recall provision, and review the specific rules (signature thresholds, grace periods, grounds)
- Gather petition signatures: The number of required signatures varies by charter (commonly 10% of qualified voters). Signatures must be gathered within 180 days of filing
- Submit and verify: The city clerk typically has 20 days to verify signatures per Texas Election Code Chapter 277
- Official response: Once certified, the official has 5 days to resign. If they don’t, a recall election is ordered
- Recall election: Voters decide whether to remove the official from office
Grace period: Many home-rule charters include a grace period (often 6 months) after an official takes office during which a recall petition cannot be filed. Check your city’s charter for the specific timeframe.
San Antonio is a home-rule city, so recall provisions exist in the San Antonio City Charter. If you’re outside San Antonio city limits, check your municipality’s charter for recall rules.
Recount guidelines
Here is a summary of the Texas recount process under the Texas Election Code. A recount is used only to re-tabulate votes in a particular race or measure. It does not go as far as an election contest in court.
Who can request a recount?
- A candidate who is shown by the election return not to be nominated or elected
- A winning candidate in certain circumstances affecting offices with a state-level canvass
- For a ballot measure: the campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose political committee involved in the election
- Any 25 or more voters acting jointly who were eligible to vote in the election (for measures only)
Grounds for a recount
A recount petition must state a valid ground. You may request a recount if:
- The margin is less than 10% of the votes received by the winning candidate (or the prevailing side of a measure)
- The total votes cast by all candidates in the race is less than 1,000
- An election judge certifies that paper ballots were counted incorrectly (rare, and must be certified by the Secretary of State)
- No ground is required for requesting a recount of electronic voting system results
Example: If Jane Doe received 2,000 votes and John Doe received 1,850 votes, the difference is 150. Since 10% of 2,000 is 200, and 150 is less than 200, John Doe may request a recount.
Filing deadlines
Recount deadlines are very tight. A request is considered submitted at the time it is received, not when it is mailed.
Regular recount
Plurality vote, or majority vote with only 2 candidates
5:00 PM
The later of: 5th day after Election Day or 2nd day after canvass
Expedited recount
Majority vote required AND more than 2 candidates
2:00 PM
The later of: 3rd day after Election Day or 1st day after canvass
If a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or state holiday, it extends to 10:00 AM on the next business day. Candidates are elected by plurality unless the law expressly provides otherwise.
Required deposit
A recount petition must be accompanied by a deposit in cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Early voting ballots count as one additional precinct.
| Ballot type | Deposit per precinct |
| Regular paper ballots | $60 |
| Electronic voting system | $100 |
| Printed ballot images from DRE | Actual expense |
| Service charge per recount supervisor | $15 |
| Additional charge (state-level canvass) | $50 to recount coordinator |
Refund rules: If the recount changes the outcome of the election, the entire deposit is returned. If the outcome doesn’t change, costs are deducted from the deposit and any remainder is returned. If the deposit doesn’t cover the costs, the petitioner owes the difference.
What must be in the petition
A recount petition must be written and include:
- The office or measure for which a recount is requested
- The ground for the recount (not required for electronic system recounts)
- The election precincts to be recounted and the method of voting
- For electronic ballots: whether you want a manual or electronic recount
- The petitioning candidate’s name, address, and phone number
- Each opposing candidate’s name, address, and phone number
- The candidate’s (or agent’s) signature
- The required deposit
What happens after you file
- Review: The recount coordinator has 48 hours to review the petition and notify you of any defects
- Fix defects: You can amend the petition by the filing deadline or within 2 days of receiving notice, whichever is later
- Approval: If approved, the coordinator notifies the recount supervisor, petitioner, and all opposing candidates
- Scheduling: The recount must be held within 7 days of petition approval. You’ll receive at least 18 hours’ notice of the time and place
- Recount committee: At least 4 members are appointed, and votes are re-tabulated. Each candidate may have representatives present
- Results: The committee reports results precinct-by-precinct. If the vote count changes, a new canvass is conducted
Common misconceptions about recounts
✖ Misconception
“A recount in one race means other races get recounted too.”
✔ Reality
A recount only covers the specific race or measure petitioned. It does not authorize recounting any other race.
✖ Misconception
“A recount delays the official canvass.”
✔ Reality
The canvass goes ahead on schedule. The canvassing authority just notes that a recount has been requested. However, issuance of a certificate of election is delayed until the recount is complete.
✖ Misconception
“You can recount the same race more than once.”
✔ Reality
A race can only be recounted once under the Texas Election Code.
✖ Misconception
“A recount can investigate whether voters were properly qualified.”
✔ Reality
A recount only re-tabulates votes. It does not authorize re-qualifying voters. That level of review requires a formal election contest in court.
Automatic recounts (tie votes)
In certain tie-vote situations, an automatic recount is conducted before a second election or lot-drawing can occur:
- Plurality election: If two or more candidates tie for the votes needed to win, an automatic recount occurs (unless the candidates resolve it by lot or withdrawal)
- Majority election: If more than two candidates tie for the highest votes, or two or more tie for the second highest, an automatic recount determines the runoff candidates
- Runoff tie: If candidates in a runoff tie, an automatic recount must be held before lots are drawn
Automatic recounts use the same counting method as the original election, and costs are paid by the political subdivision, not by any candidate.
Who runs a recount
Recount supervisor: Manages and supervises the recount. This is the presiding officer of the local canvassing authority (county judge for county races, mayor for city elections, school board president for school elections, etc.).
Recount coordinator: Receives the petition and determines the result. This is the presiding officer of the final canvassing authority (often the same person as the supervisor, but for state/district races it’s the Secretary of State).
If the presiding officer is a candidate in the race being recounted, they are ineligible, and a substitute (typically the county clerk, city secretary, or governing body secretary) serves instead.
Resources
TX SOS: recount procedures
The Texas Secretary of State’s official outline of procedures to request and conduct a recount under the Texas Election Code.
BallotpediaTexas recount laws
Plain-language overview of Texas recount triggers, deadlines, costs, and processes from the nonpartisan Ballotpedia encyclopedia.
BallotpediaTexas recall laws
Overview of recall election laws in Texas: which officials can be recalled, petition requirements, and charter-specific rules.
State of Texas2026 canvass & recount deadlines
Official advisory from the TX Secretary of State with specific canvass and recount deadlines for the March 2026 primary elections.
Verified VotingVerified Voting: Texas
Independent analysis of Texas recount and audit laws, including how electronic and paper ballots are handled differently.
Bexar CountyBexar County Elections Dept.
Contact the Bexar County Elections Department for questions about local canvass schedules, recount procedures, or election results.