Presidential recount scheduled Saturday in Isabella County
A recount in Isabella County is scheduled at 9 a.m. Dec. 10 for the presidential election after a judge granted Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s request for a recount throughout the state of Michigan.
The recount will be held at the Isabella County Building at 200 Main Street.
Isabella County Clerk Minde Lux said she hopes to complete the recount within a day, but says it could take longer if opponents to the recount challenge ballots.
Stein filed a petition for the recount on Nov. 30. President-Elect Donald Trump and Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed objections to the recount on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2, respectively. The objection said that, as the fourth-place candidate in the election, Stein does not count as an “aggrieved party” under Michigan law.
“Michigan voters rejected Stein’s candidacy by massive margins, but her refusal to accept that state-verified result poses an expensive and risky threat to hard-working taxpayers and abuses the intent of Michigan Law,” Schuette said in a news release.
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson released a statement Nov. 30 in response to the request.
“It is unusual that a candidate who received just 1 percent of the vote is seeking a recount, especially when there is no evidence of hacking or fraud, or even a credible allegation of any tampering.”
Johnson estimated the recount will cost Michigan $4 million after the $1 million raised by Jill Stein for the recount in Michigan.
Isabella County voters cast 25,540 votes in the presidential election on Nov. 8. Trump won the county with 12,338 votes to Hillary Clinton’s 11,404, a difference of 934 votes.
