Michigan would double fees for long-shot election recounts under legislation approved Tuesday by the state Senate following a partial hand recount of 2016 presidential votes prompted by Green Party nominee Jill Stein. Stein petitioned for a Michigan recount despite receiving less than two percent of the vote in the state’s Nov. 7 election that saw Republican President Donald Trump officially defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes. Michigan law required Stein to pay $973,250 for the massive hand recount — $125 per physical and absentee ballot precinct — but Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s office estimated the actual cost for the state and local clerks could approach $2 million.
The recount was eventually halted by state and federal judges, who ruled Stein was not an “aggrieved party” under Michigan law because she had no chance of winning the election. The state refunded Stein $632,125 for precincts that were not counted.
The Senate legislation would double recount fees for a candidate who lost an election by more than 5 percentage points, raising rates from $125 to $250 per precinct. It would not alter reduced rates of $25 for candidates who lost by fewer than 50 votes or 0.5 percentage points.
Full Article: Stein recount sparks Mich. vote to double fees.