25,774 ballots to be hand counted
By Robert Cloud
Eighteen people will be working on the presidential recount in Waupaca County, beginning Thursday, Dec. 1.
The county clerkâs office estimates the county will spend a total of $17,564 for the recount.
On Monday, Nov. 28, the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) approved a recount of the more than 2.78 million votes cast statewide in the 2016 presidential election.
Republican candidate Donald Trump carried Wisconsin with 1.4 million votes, while Democrat Hillary Clinton received 1.38 million votes.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein requested the recount, citing concerns that the election results may have been hacked.
Stein has also filed for a recount in Pennsylvania and may seek a recount in Michigan.
Trump was declared the winner of the 2016 presidential election after securing 306 Electoral College votes to Clintonâs 232.
Wisconsin has 10 Electoral College votes, while Michigan is worth 16 and Pennsylvania is worth 20.
Clinton lost by 0.8 percent of the vote in Wisconsin, by 1.1 percent in Pennsylvania and by 0.2 percent in Michigan.
According to a running tally by the Cook Political Report, Clinton received 2 million more popular votes nationwide than Trump.
In Wisconsin, Stein is seeking a hand recount of all ballots statewide.
However, the WEC voted instead to allow each county clerk in Wisconsinâs 72 counties to determine how to conduct its local recount.
Stein has since sued in Dane County Circuit court to require a hand count.
Federal law requires that the recount be completed by Dec. 13.
The WEC has given county clerks until 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, to complete their recounts.
The WEC estimates the cost for the recount statewide at $3.5 million. Stein will be required to pay that amount in advance of the recount.
County Clerk Mary Robbins estimated the recount in Waupaca County would cost $17,564.
In addition to the three members of the countyâs Board of Canvassers, there will be 12 tabulators, a security officer, a secretary and an attorney working a combined 720 hours to conduct the recount.
Robbins said Waupaca County will recount its 25,774 ballots by hand.
She expects the countyâs recount will be completed by Dec. 7.