Posted on 11/29/2016 7:32:25 PM PST by drewh
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. County clerks say they are scrambling to prepare for a looming statewide election recountthe first in the state in more than half a centurythat could begin within the next 72 hours and cost taxpayers more than $12 million, Republicans argue.
Green Party candidate Jill Steinwho has already been granted a recount in Wisconsinpromised on Monday her campaign would be filing a request to challenge the vote count in Michigan. The request must be submitted by Wednesday afternoon, which her campaign indicated would happen.
Kent County Clerk Mary Hollinrake says her team isn't waiting for the recount request to starting planning.
"Theres too much work needed behind the scenes to wait until the last moment to get ready," Hollinrake told FOX 17 on Tuesday, just 24 hours after being alerted about the potential for a recount by the state.
"We have to look at 300,000 ballots Its a huge task."
The county not only needs to find a venue large enough for the recount, but also expects to hire upwards of 50 workersexisting area clerks and precinct workersfor the tedious job of hand counting ballots cast in Kent's 490 precincts.
"Were working through the weekends, 8-12 hours days," she said. "Theyre not leaving for lunch, we have to cater all the food.
Hollinrake said the venue will likely need to be the size of a school gymnasiumlarge enough to fit 30-40 long tables that seat between four and eight people.
"That table has to accommodate all the ballots for a precinct and the watchers because each candidate can have someone there," she said, in addition to two state-level canvass workers required to be at each table.
County officials in neighboring Ottawa are similarly preparing; looking for a large venue while expecting to hire 30-40 workers to county roughly 140,000 ballots.
"The expectation is once we start we wont be stopping until its done," said Steven Daitch, the county's elections coordinator. "All of our staff involved, all the workers helping us out, are all folks who had vacations planned that theyre cancelling or coming back from."
In addition to the extra time workers will spend on the recount, counties expect to spend extra money beyond what the state will reimburse for such an event.
The Stein campaign, which is expected to request the recount, will be on the hook to pay roughly $800,000. However, state and local election officials anticipate the final cost could exceed $900,000, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference.
On Tuesday, Michigan Republicans claimed the request for a hand recount could cost taxpayers up to $12 million, a dozen times what Stein will have to pay.
GOP attorney Eric Doster, who will help represent President-elect Donald Trump's campaign in the recount, said he can't imagine the recount costing less than $10 to $12 million the cost of a statewide election.
Republicans cite "astronomical" costs of overtime pay, training, security and travel.
Michigan GOP Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel declines to say if Republicans will challenge the recount or take legal action, saying Stein hasn't yet made her request.
Campaigns requesting recounts are charged $125 per precinct, under state recount rules, which is reimbursed to counties. Hollinrake says she expected Kent County to receive more than $61,000 in reimbursements. Daitch says he expected Ottawa County to receive a state reimbursement of more than $13,000.
Once a request is filed Trump can challenge it, which would stop the recount and push the deadline past the Dec. 19 Electoral College vote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
This is lunacy.
Can’t say what I’m thinking about mzzz. Stein right about now.
The left is adept at lunacy.
And they have to do it in 17 days or whatever? Big task.
Who is going to pay for the cancelled vacation plans of the staff?
The State should recover this money by defunding the Left by 10X the amount incurred.
This can also be rejected. The MI director of elections has said that she has no evidence that constitutes a recount. He seems to be echoing your sentiment. Saw this on Fox News this afternoon.
All this for Jill Stein who,got less than 2% of the vote?
Who,is trying to prove what?
When is common sense and decency going to return to our nation and tell people who make ridiculous demands “ no”
Yep, this is gonna make the Green Party REAL popular.
Soon they too, along with Obama, will be relegated to the dust bin of history, where they belong.
“And they have to do it in 17 days or whatever? Big task.”
****
Nope. They have to CHEAT/LIE/STEAL in 17 days.
After paying WI $3.9 million for that recount, she only has $2.7 million left, according to this website:
https://jillstein.nationbuilder.com/recount
Somebody’s going to have to come up big to meet the MI fees PLUS PA.
This is infuriating...bitch Hitlery and soros!!!! Those Pieholes are having their way disguised as Jill the puppet!! Good gosh I hope decent high ranking officials will put a stop to this insanity and craziness in those three states!!
Use this opportun7ty to investigate voter fraud in ‘Rat Counties.
why should it cost the tax payers a dime?
Stein wants recount she should pay in full.
Does Stein have to pay for this up front?
Once a request is filed Trump can challenge it, which would stop the recount and push the deadline past the Dec. 19 Electoral College vote.
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I’m not afraid of an honest recount, Trump would, no doubt gain votes but it’s time to put a stop to this democrat nonsense.
Hopefully, seeing what Stein and Clinton will have wrought, these states will be Republican for a generation.
JUST SAY NO.... Enough of feeling like you have to dance to the tune of Keftue nuts . To hell with them and their f-ing lawyers .
Only 2 watchers? Stine and trump or Stine and Hillary?
Because if Stine’s people are not there there is no reason for her to request a recount and they should tell her to buck off.
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