A Wisconsin judge refused on Tuesday to order local election workers to conduct the state’s upcoming presidential recount completely by hand Tuesday, finding that nothing suggests the state’s electronic tabulating machines have been hacked. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has been trying to make the case that Wisconsin’s tabulating machines could have been compromised in a cyberattack and a hand recount is the only way to tell for sure. But Dane County Circuit Court Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn concluded Stein’s attorneys failed to show any hard evidence the machines were attacked and are unreliable. Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton by about 22,000 votes in Wisconsin, but Stein has alleged — without evidence — that the results may have been hacked. She asked for a recount last week, saying the state needs to be sure.
The Wisconsin Election Commission had to grant the request under state law but refused another Stein request that the commission order all county clerks to recount the votes by hand, leaving it up to the counties to decide how to conduct the process.
Stein filed a lawsuit seeking a judge’s order for a hand recount. Hillary Clinton’s campaign joined the action Tuesday, saying she has a stake in the results.
State Department of Justice attorneys filed briefs Tuesday arguing that Stein hasn’t shown how a hand recount would change the election’s results. Elections Commission Administrator Mike Hass said only 19 counties plan to use electronic tabulators; the rest plan to count by hand.
Full Article: Judge refuses to order hand recount of votes in Wisconsin – Chicago Tribune.