Judge Orders Michigan Ballot Recount To Begin
The recount of 4.9 million would be the largest in Michigan history.
The largest voter recount in Michigan’s history has been ordered to begin Monday at noon.
Federal Judge Mark Goldsmith issued his ruling regarding the presidential recount a little after midnight, following a rare Sunday hearing in his Detroit courtroom.
Goldsmith heard arguments over the logistics of the recount and how much the state would have to spend, but in his written opinion, what’s most important is the integrity of the presidential election in Michigan.
“That was our goal, to try to get the recount started before Wednesday,” said Mark Brewer, an attorney for Green Party nominee Jill Stein, who requested the recount.
State law required a delay of two business days after an elections board met Friday to decide challenges to the recount.
The recount of 4.9 million would be the largest in Michigan history.
Meanwhile, lawmakers want to make sure Stein – who filed for the recount – picks up the tab.
State Rep. Lisa Lyons (R-Alto) wants to deter long-shot candidates from holding costly recounts.
While she can’t stop the recounts, she can make the candidates pick up the full tab. The legislation would require a candidate who requests a recount to pay the full cost if they lose a statewide election by more than five percentage points.
“The nightmare that is unfolding as a result of this recount is transcendent of what party somebody belongs to,” said Lyons.
The bill would be retroactive, meaning if passed, Stein would be on the hook for the millions of dollars that could go into the ongoing recount.
