Jill Stein wires $3.5 million for Wisconsin recount, as error in cost estimate revealed
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has wired the money necessary to begin the Wisconsin recount, the Wisconsin Elections Commission tweeted Tuesday, $3,499,689.
Wire transfer of $3,499,689 from @DrJillStein has arrived at Wisconsin Elections Commission.
— Wisconsin Elections (@WI_Elections) November 29, 2016
However, the Wisconsin Elections Commission also revealed an error in its tally. “Unfortunately, there was an error in adding up figures from the 72 Wisconsin county clerks of their estimated recount costs, and the actual total is $3,898,340,” the commission said in its statement.
Stein will be getting a $400,000 price break -- for now, anyway. “At this time, the Commission will not be requiring the Stein campaign to pay the additional amount,” according to the release. “When counties report their actual costs, the Commission will either bill the Stein campaign for any costs over the $3.5 million or refund the campaign any unused funds.”
Now that the payment has been received, the commission is ordering the recount to begin Thursday. The other petitioner, Roque De La Fuente, withdrew his petition Tuesday.
The state must complete the recount by the federal deadline of Dec. 13.
Stein had pushed for a statewide hand recount of the ballots, but the commission voted that down. She is suing the Wisconsin Elections Commission to force a hand recount, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
As it stands, Donald Trump currently holds a lead of 27,257 votes over Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin.
CBS News’ Katiana Krawchenko contributed to this report.