HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The recount of Michigan’s presidential ballots will begin at noon today, Monday, December 5, but Ottawa County is scheduled to start the recount on Tuesday, December 6.
The judge has ordered the state to assemble a sufficient staff to complete the recount by December 13th. What does that mean for Ottawa County? Ottawa County clerk Justin Roebuck says it has a significant impact for staff, however they have till 9 a.m.Tuesday to start counting. Due to a rolling process that was scheduled before the order issued by the federal judge for certain counties, Ottawa County will start on Tuesday to count the ballots.
Roebuck says his staff feels confidant as they have been preparing for a week for the recount. “We’re ready to go for whatever they throw at us. In our training process we highlight a possibility for a recount. In the nine years I have been on the staff we have never had a recount let alone the State of Michigan having a presidential recount.”
Roebuck says what is frustrating is that the candidate who received 1% of the vote is not alleging that she was aggreived in any way. “And yet has no shred of evidence to back up any concerns on fraud or hacking, and that candidate is requesting a recount. So in that sense it is frustrating, but this is a part of our jobs and we are very confidant in the process itself. We’re up for the challenge.”
The late-night action was the result of an emergency request made by lawyers for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
If a recount in all three states resulted in them flipping to Democrat Hillary Clinton, Clinton would take the presidency. Stein says she does not expect the recount to change the outcome, but wants to test the integrity of the voting systems.
