Vote Recount Ordered In Michigan, A State Won Closely By President-Elect Donald Trump

A federal United States judge in a late-night ruling ordered Michigan to begin its presidential election vote recount by Monday noon (5 December), making it likely to have the results ahead of the 13 December deadline.

In his Sunday night ruling, Judge Mark Goldsmith rejected an effort by state officials to delay the hand-counting of about 4.8 million ballots, the Detroit News reported.

Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein had argued that it is unconstitutional law that requires a break of at least two business days after the Board of Canvassers' final action on a recount request. Goldsmith found that Stein had "shown the likelihood of irreparable harm" if the count was delayed even by two days and rejected the state's arguments about the cost to taxpayers.

Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes, or two-tenths of a percentage point, in Michigan. Stein received about 1 per cent of the vote.

With inputs from IANS