Since You Asked is a reader-driven series that answers questions about our community. Have something you've always wondered about? Submit your question here.

Think your vote doesn’t matter?

In Hart County, a single vote decided the mayoral race in Horse Cave on Tuesday. John B. Buckingham defeated incumbent Randall Curry 281-280, ending Curry's bid for re-election.

The county judge-executive race was nearly as close. Incumbent Joe Choate defeated challenger Asa T. Waggoner by 11 votes, 2,566-2,555.

In Monroe County, Robert J. Greer was elected mayor of Gamaliel over Roger Barlow by six votes, 77-71.

The Burkesville mayor’s race was also closely contested. Connie Cravens defeated Laurel J. Irby by 14 votes, winning 208-194.

Those were among the closest local contests across South Central Kentucky in Tuesday’s general election, and they raise a question: Does Kentucky law require a recount when an election is decided by just a handful of votes?

The answer depends on the office being contested.

Kentucky law requires automatic recounts in certain state and federal races, but that requirement does not extend to most local elections.

When is an automatic recount required?

Kentucky law requires an automatic recount when a candidate in certain state and federal races loses by no more than one-half of 1% of the votes cast for that office.

The requirement applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, the Kentucky General Assembly and several statewide constitutional offices, including attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and commissioner of agriculture.

The State Board of Elections determines whether the margin triggers an automatic recount based on the total number of votes certified to the secretary of state.

Under KRS 120.157, the Commonwealth pays for recounts required under that provision.

What about local elections?

The automatic recount requirement does not extend to local races such as county judge-executive, sheriff, mayor or city council.

That means the close races in Horse Cave and Gamaliel do not automatically trigger a recount under the state’s half-percent rule.

Candidates in those races may still pursue a recount, but they must take action themselves.

Under KRS 120.185, a candidate may request a recount by filing a petition in the appropriate circuit court. Candidates seeking a recount for offices certified by a county board of elections generally must file within 10 days after Election Day.

The candidate or party requesting the recount must also provide a bond to cover its costs, with the amount determined by a circuit judge.

Recount versus recanvass

Kentucky also provides a separate process known as a recanvass, which is often confused with a recount.

Under KRS 117.305, a candidate may request a recanvass of voting equipment and certain ballots. The request must be made before 4 p.m. on the Tuesday following a primary or regular election.

A candidate’s request is sufficient to require a recanvass when the difference between candidates is less than 1% of the total votes cast for the office.

Unlike a recount, which involves retallying ballots, a recanvass checks the voting equipment and its recorded totals without unlocking the machines. The process is intended to identify discrepancies in the original returns.

A recanvass does not prevent a candidate from separately pursuing a recount under Kentucky law.

The bottom line

A close election does not necessarily mean a recount is coming.

Kentucky automatically recounts certain state and federal races when the margin is no more than one-half of 1%. For local races, candidates must pursue a recount through the court system.

The results in Horse Cave and Gamaliel are reminders of just how much a handful of votes can matter, even when state law does not automatically require those votes to be counted again.