Stein files recount request in Wisconsin

United States Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein filed a recount petition in the state of Wisconsin on Friday. Election board officials later on Friday agreed to conduct a statewide recount of the almost 3 million ballots cast.

According to her website, Stein raised over $5.2 million (4.9 million euros) by Friday afternoon in an effort to request recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania following the November 8 US presidential election of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Wisconsin has the earliest recount request deadline of the three states. Wisconsin law requires those who request a recount show they can provide funds to cover the costs to recount the votes.  Election officials estimate the cost will be approximately $1 million (940,000 euros).

A federal deadline calls for the recount to be finished by December 13.

A lack of trust

Stein said on her fundraising website Friday "these recounts are part of an election integrity movement to attempt to shine a light on just how untrustworthy the US election system is."

The 2016 US presidential campaign saw very tight races in battleground states and hacking attacks on political organizations and private email accounts. Experts say there is virtually no chance the results will be overturned, but the petition could continue the debate over the legitimacy of Trump's campaign. Although Trump won based on the electoral college, Clinton leads the popular vote by more than two million votes.

Trump defeated Clinton by approximately 27,000 votes in Wisconsin and 60,000 votes in Pennsylvania, according to official results. Unofficial results released by Michigan's secretary of state showed Trump has a lead of nearly 11,000 votes. Stein received about 1 percent of the vote in Wisconsin. 

Trump and Clinton have not yet commented on the recount petition.

kbd/jm (AP, dpa, Reuters)