#TrumpIsPathetic: Trump Will Pay Atleast $7.9M To Recount Votes In Wisconsin, Says Council—The electoral commission of Wisconsin state has on Monday said that if President Trump wants a recount of the razor-thin presidential race in the state, it will need to pay $7.9 million upfront.
President Trump has made unfounded claims of voting irregularities and fraud, even though Wisconsin elections officials have said there were no irregularities or widespread problems reported.
The amount charged by Wisconsin for the recount is four times higher than what the recount cost four years ago, a cost increase that elections officials said was driven by expenses related to conducting a recount during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Monday released the recount timeline and cost estimate, which was based on costs submitted by the 72 counties.
“We still have not received any indication that there will or will not be a recount,” said Meagan Wolfe, the state’s chief election official. “But we want Wisconsin’s voters to know we are ready.”
Trump has been raising money off the expected recount and has indicated that he will move ahead with it, even though Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes would not be enough to change the outcome of the race.
Trump’s Wisconsin campaign spokeswoman Anna Kelly did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the estimated cost.
Recounts are not automatic under Wisconsin law. But any losing candidate who is within 1 point of the winner can request one. Trump lost by about six-tenths of a point, based on unofficial results. Candidates must pay for recounts if they are more than 0.25 points behind the winner.
