This week, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein filed a request for a recount of the results of the 2016 presidential election in Michigan.  On her website, Ms. Stein states the recount is needed to verify the results of the machine-counted vote totals in the state. 

According to a press release from Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, the cost of the recount could reach into the millions of dollars.  Ms. Stein must pay $125 per-precinct for the recount, but that may not cover the total cost of the recount. 

President-elect Donald Trump filed an objection to the recount on Thursday.  The Board of State Canvassers met on Friday morning to consider both the petition for recount and President-elect Trump’s objection to the recount.  The Board voted 2-2 on the recount, due to the tie vote the recount will move forward at this time.  However, on Friday morning, Attorney General Bill Schuette announced he filed a lawsuit to stop the recount filed by Jill Stein.  In the lawsuit, he asks the Michigan Court of Appeals to order the Board of State Canvassers to reject the request for a statewide hand recount.  Additionally, he filed an emergency motion with the Michigan Supreme Court asking to bypass the Court of Appeals for immediate consideration.  “The federal government has a deadline of December 13 for states to complete any recounts.  If the recount in Michigan does move forward, it could prove challenging for all precincts in the state to complete a recount by that date.  Additionally, the Electoral College is slated to formally vote on December 19, placing another deadline on local clerks,” stated Tony Des Chenes of MLC.

Ms. Stein is also seeking recounts of the presidential race results in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.   

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