Michigan Recount 2016: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Heavy ^ | November 26, 2016 | Jessica McBride

[bobsunshine]

Michigan – the battleground state with one of the closest margins in the country – appears headed toward a 2016 presidential election recount, although the deadline for requesting one is not until November 30. ...snip...

The Detroit Free Press said the recount “will be a monumental task for the Secretary of State and 83 county clerks around Michigan” and that the state will hand count each ballot if a recount is requested.

Michigan’s recount rules say that a candidate “who believes that the canvass of the votes cast on the office may be incorrect because of possible ‘fraud or mistake’ in the precinct returns may petition for a recount of the votes cast in the precincts involved.”

Michigan charges $125 per precinct for a recount. Opposing candidates can “submit objections to the recount request to the Board of County Canvassers,” Michigan’s recount rules say.

In contrast, Wisconsin does not mandate hand counting of ballots and uses a mixture of electronic machines and paper ballots. Pennsylvania is one of a few states to rely almost exclusively on electronic machines without any paper records.

[Darren McCarty]

TEAM Trump may be waiting until the petition is filed before they will announce their intentions. Also the SOS probably has to make sure all county elections offices are ready for a recount should there be one.

I got an email from Trump's campaign asking for help with a recount if it gets to that point. They're on this.

[fwdude]

When it comes to light that Clinton was colluding with Stein on this recount request (to appear disinterested) I wonder if the FBI director will take any substantive action to recommend indictment.

[MarMema]

Welcome back fellow Michigander. Hubby and I are up near Gaylord.

[MarMema]

Also in MI unlike WI, the SOS has authority to reject a recount request for various reasons and also the petitioner must prove some kind of harm was done to them.

I think this is why Hillary had to leave the closet on this effort, right?

[Darren McCarty]

I grew up between Roscommon and Grayling. I’m now between Brighton and Milford.

[dsm69]

Possibly. Though I have the feeling if the PA judge later today or this week rules correctly and dismisses the Stein/Clinton recount petition due to lack of prima facia evidence of fraud or tabulation error as required by PA Law, the you may see Clinton back away from supporting recount efforts in WI and MI since with PA off the recount table, Trump will have 280 electoral votes locked up.