This bill amends the current election recount procedures in New Jersey by establishing an automatic recount for elections decided by a vote differential of 0.5 percent or less. Under the new provisions, if such a close margin is identified, the State will cover the costs of the recount. For elections with a vote differential greater than 0.5 percent, candidates or groups of ten or more voters can apply for a recount within three days of the election results certification. The application must be made to a judge in the appropriate Superior Court, with specific provisions for cases involving multiple counties.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that applicants for recounts in elections with a greater than 0.5 percent differential must deposit funds with the court clerk, which will be held pending the recount's outcome. The deposit amount must be reasonable and proportional to the number of districts involved. If the recount confirms the original results, the funds will be allocated to the responsible county or municipality; however, if the recount alters the election outcome, the deposit will be returned to the applicant.