Vote here. MWC file photo by Mike Leischner
MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin election officials have outlined the process for a potential recount of the Presidental vote count in this year’s election.
In a news release, Chief Elections Official Megan Wolfe announced that clerks statewide have estimated the recount would cost $7.9 million, money the Trump campaign would have to pay upfront for the recount.
That’s significantly more than the 2016 recount, which was requested by Green Party Candidate Jill Stein because election officials must plan for other factors that weren’t present that year including more space to allow for social distancing, security for recount sites, and a large number of absentee ballots.
All election results are expected to be submitted by Tuesday. The Trump campaign would then have until 5 PM Wednesday to request the recount. Should that happen, counties would need to begin the process by 9 AM on Saturday, November 21st.
The deadline to complete the recount would then be December 1st.
Recounts are not automatically triggered in Wisconsin, they must be asked for by one of the aggrieved candidates. If the projected margin of victory is less than 0.25%, the recount is paid for by the state. Anything more than that is on the candidate asking for the recount.
After the 2016 recount voted totals increased by 713 for Democrat Hillary Clinton and 844 for Republican Donald Trump. That increased Trump’s margin of victory by 131 votes.
Stein paid $3.5 million for that recount.
Comments