Wisconsin presidential recount would cost Trump $7.9 million

President Donald Trump will have to pay $7.9 million if he wants a statewide recount of ufficial results in Wisconsin showing him losing to Democrat Joe Biden by about 20,500 votes.

That is four times higher than what recount cost four years ago, a cost increase that elections officials said was driven by expenses related to conducting a recount during coronavirus pandemic.

Wisconsin Elections Commission released estimate on Monday, which was based on costs submitted by 72 counties. recount could begin as soon as Thursday and be done later than Dec. 1.

“We still have t received any indication that re will or will t be a recount,” said Meagan Wolfe, state's chief election official. “But we want Wisconsin’s voters to kw we are rey.”

Trump has me unfounded claims of voting irregularities and fraud, even though Wisconsin elections officials have said re were irregularities or widespre problems reported. Trump has been raising money off expected recount and has indicated that he will move ahe with it, even though Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes would t be eugh to change outcome of race.

Trump’s Wisconsin campaign spokeswoman Anna Kelly did t immediately return a mess seeking comment on estimated cost.

Recounts are t automatic under Wisconsin law. But any losing candidate who is within 1 point of winner can request one. Trump lost by about six-tenths of a point, based on ufficial results. Candidates must pay for recounts if y are more than 0.25 points behind winner.

Counties h until Tuesday to certify election results. Assuming last county canvass isn't filed until Tuesday as expected, Trump would n have until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to request recount.

As of midday Monday, 68 of 72 counties h completed certification of vote. Those results, which include provisional ballots that were counted after Election Day, show that Biden picked up 122 votes and Trump gained 107 statewide so far. net gain was 15 for Biden.

A timeline for recount issued by state elections commission said that order to start it could be issued on Thursday. Counties would have until Saturday to begin recount, which would have to be done by on on Dec. 1.

In 2016, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein paid $3.5 million in vance for recount. It ended up costing $2 million, and she was refunded $1.5 million.

Trump could also be refunded some of cost if estimate is too high. He could also decide to pursue a recount only in some counties, which would also reduce costs.

Wolfe said higher cost this year was due to factors caused by pandemic that weren't an issue n, such as needing larger s to permit public observation and social distancing, security for those s, higher number of absentee ballots, a compressed timeframe over Thanksgiving holiday, and renting high-speed ballot scanning equipment.

Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said recount would cost $740,000 and take place at Mona Terrace convention center, located just down street from city-county building. Renting that , which allows for more distancing between workers, cost $88,500, McDonell said.

Milwaukee County h highest estimated cost at just over $2 million. Of that, $649,600 was for rental to do that recount.

state elections commission, which is also allowed to charge for recount costs, estimated its expenses at $30,000.

Separately Monday, three voters who filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to exclude some ballots in Milwaukee, Dane and Meminee counties withdraw ir lawsuit. Attorney James Bopp said he could t say why because of attorney-client privilege. voters h alleged widespre fraud in absentee balloting.

(Im Credit: AP)