Honduran electoral authorities have launched a special recount of 2,792 ballot boxes from the Nov. 30 presidential election after three weeks of disputed tallies and allegations of irregularities. The recount follows an initial count that reached 99.80% and is being conducted with national and international observers. Nasry Asfura leads narrowly over Salvador Nasralla, while President Xiomara Castro said she will respect the outcome.
Honduras Launches Special Recount of 2,792 Ballot Boxes After U.S. Pressure
Supporters of the party LIBRE, Liberty and Refoundation, protest the general election results in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Electoral authorities in Honduras on Thursday opened a special recount of the final set of ballots from the Nov. 30 presidential election after three weeks of disputed tallies, allegations of irregularities and mounting pressure from the United States to conclude the process.
The extraordinary review covers 2,792 ballot boxes. Officials said it was not yet possible to predict how long the operation will take, but noted the recount follows an earlier tally that had reached 99.80% of ballots counted.
Ana Paola Hall, president of the National Electoral Council, said the recount is being conducted "in the presence of national and international observers," a move intended to bolster transparency as tensions remain high.
The impasse over the remaining returns stalled certification and intensified political uncertainty. On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department publicly urged Honduran election authorities to "immediately" finalize results and warned that any attempts to obstruct the process would "be met with consequences." The department added on X that "the voices of 3.4 million Hondurans must be respected and upheld."
Tight Race and Political Fallout
The contest remains razor-close. Nasry Asfura of the conservative National Party leads with 40.54% of votes, while Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party follows with 39.3%. Rixi Moncada, the candidate for the ruling LIBRE (Liberty and Re‑foundation) party, stands at 19.28%.
In the run-up to the vote, Donald Trump publicly backed Asfura—an intervention critics said amounted to outside influence. Trump also pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced by a U.S. court last year to 45 years in prison for his role in a drug‑trafficking operation, a move that further complicated perceptions of U.S. involvement.
For President Xiomara Castro and her LIBRE party, the election represented a political reckoning. Castro, elected in 2021 on promises to curb violence and root out corruption, has seen support wane amid criticism that her administration fell short of expectations. Castro is married to former President Manuel “Mel” Zelaya, who was removed from power in a 2009 coup.
"Even in these difficult circumstances, I have been respectful of the law and the Constitution of the Republic, and to maintain peace in our country ... I will respect the winner," Castro said in a public address.
Analysts say the special recount aims to resolve outstanding complaints and restore confidence, though some observers warned that political actors could still try to delay final certification to extract leverage. Election officials say the recount will proceed under observation and that authorities will report results when the process concludes.
