BILLINGS – Montana officials say Republican Sandy Welch can use money from her party or any other source to cover the $115,000 cost of an anticipated recount in the state schools superintendent race.
Welch came up 2,264 votes short of toppling incumbent Democrat Denise Juneau in the contest for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
That’s within the margin needed for a recount. Welch says she wants one, but she will have to put up a bond to cover the costs.
The Secretary of State’s office said Thursday a statewide recount would cost about 25 cents per ballot, with more than 468,000 ballots cast in the contest.
The Commissioner of Political Practices Office says there will be no restrictions on how Welch raises the money.