Recount ends in Michigan after three days; ongoing in Wisconsin
DETROIT -- Michigan’s recount of presidential votes is over after a judge lifted an order that forced a statewide review of millions of ballots.
The recount lasted three days in more than 20 of the state’s 83 counties. Some counties hadn’t planned to start until later.
Federal Judge Mark Goldsmith said Wednesday he must follow a decision by the Michigan appeals court, which found that Green Party candidate Jill Stein couldn’t seek a recount. She got one percent of the state vote and presented no evidence of fraud. Republican Donald Trump narrowly won.
The court said Stein, who finished fourth in Michigan on Nov. 8, didn’t have a chance of winning even after a recount and therefore isn’t an “aggrieved” candidate.
“Because there is no basis for this court to ignore the Michigan court’s ruling and make an independent judgment regarding what the Michigan Legislature intended by the term ‘aggrieved,’ plaintiffs have not shown an entitlement to a recount,” Goldsmith said.
The Michigan elections board stopped the recount because of Goldsmith’s new ruling and plans to meet again Thursday.
A recount is ongoing in Wisconsin, and Stein is seeking one in Pennsylvania.
Stein is facing some trouble with her recount efforts in Pennsylvania, however. In Philadelphia, a Wednesday ruling from the city’s Court of Common Pleas denied the Green Party candidate’s request to have the city’s voting machines forensically examined.
Mr. Trump won Wisconsin and Pennsylvania as well.