California · Elections Code

ELEC §16503: The contestant shall, in the first instance, be liable for the expenses involved in making any recount.

What this law says, in plain English

A contestant in a recount must pay the expenses associated with conducting that recount in the first instance.

Read the full statutory text
The contestant shall, in the first instance, be liable for the expenses involved in making any recount. He or she shall pay into court in advance each day a sum that the judge finds sufficient to pay all recount expenses that will have accrued by the end of that day. The sums paid shall be part of the costs. The elections official may pay each day the clerical assistants necessary for the recount from the amount advanced by the contestant without the necessity of the funds being first deposited with the county treasurer.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.