Follow the money: What Jill Stein's recount effort really means

By: Robert Eno | December 02, 2016

Gage Skidmore | Flickr

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As the December 13, 2016 deadline for states to certify their Electoral College members rapidly approaches, Green Party candidate Jill Stein is continuing with her laughable recount requests. None of the three recounts she is requesting will change the outcomes in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania. They are a waste of money that is doing nothing but increasing Stein’s meager profile, and increasing her donor base which she can use to personally enrich herself. Here’s a look at where the whole ridiculous process stands.

The most important thing to remember is that the deadline for states to certify the Electoral College membership is December 13, 2016. That is six days before the Electoral College meets in each of the states. Any and all recounts must be completed by that date. In 2000, during the Gore v. Bush recount in Florida, the Electoral College date was a significant factor in the final decision of the Supreme Court.

Wisconsin

As things stand, it seems that only Wisconsin will have be able to complete a recount in time. But even in that state, it is slow going. Stein lost a significant court ruling earlier in the week when a judge said that all recounts do not need to be done by hand. Some jurisdictions are conducting hand counts, while most jurisdictions are just recanvassing — running ballots through machines again.

The first day of recounting was completed on Thursday December 2, 2016 in the state. Hillary Clinton had a net one vote gain after Menominee, Wisconsin finished their recount. She is still over 22,000 votes away from winning the state.

Michigan

The state of Michigan is expected to start its recount today, but the process has been challenged by both the Trump campaign and the attorney general of Michigan. Trump’s campaign filed an objection with the Michigan Board of Canvassers on Thursday, and the board meets today to decide on the Trump challenges. The law states that a recount must begin two business days after the board decides. With the attorney general’s suit, it looks less likely that a recount would begin in time to be finished by the December 13 deadline.

Pennsylvania

A statewide recount in Pennsylvania will only happen if a court rules, next week, that it should proceed. Reports have stated that Stein missed the original deadline to look at a recount in the state, so she filed suit. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday December 5, 2016. The Trump campaign filed a motion to have the suit dismissed with the court today.

Most observers, even before the Trump’s motion to dismiss was filed, have said that the case will most likely not move forward. However, some jurisdictions may conduct individual recounts.

Liberal media hacks say challenging election results undermines democracy … unless you’re Hillary Clinton

What it means

It is most certain that any recount in any of these states will not alter the outcome of the election, which saw Donald Trump win 306 electoral votes to Clinton’s 232, while Clinton won a pyrrhic popular vote victory. It would take all three states flipping to give Clinton the presidency. So why did Stein do this?

Stein did this to increase her donor file. Many politicians “buy” their donor files from their campaigns. It is a valuable source of income for the candidate. In a report on Ben Carson’s donor list an expert told NBC News that each email address of an active donor is worth $5-$6 on the open rental market over a three year period. Stein is looking to cash in.