Actions

Wisconsin gears up for potential vote recount as 56 of 72 counties finish their count

Posted
and last updated

MILWAUKEE — The state gears up for a potential recount as more counties in Wisconsin finish up their canvass. That is the process by which the vote is audited.

“We are preparing for the potential of a recount,” said Meagan Wolfe of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

A recount can only happen after all the counties canvass their vote totals. TMJ4 News been keeping track of the counties that have finished their canvasses.

Right now, of the 72 counties 56 have their elections results in. On Thursday, five more counties submitted canvassing results. Those include Calumet County, Grant County, Langlade County, Pierce County and Winnebago County.

It resulted in slight changes to the overall unofficial vote total in the state so far. Since canvassing began, President-Elect Joe Biden gained 118 votes. President Donald Trump lost 5 votes overall.

Donald Trump, Joe Biden
In this combination photo, president Donald Trump, left, speaks at a news conference on Aug. 11, 2020, in Washington and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Del. on Aug. 13, 2020. The conventions, which will be largely virtual because of the coronavirus, will be Aug. 17-20 for the Democrats and Aug. 24-27 for the Republicans. (AP Photo)

The clerk in Grant County told us their vote totals changed by about 100 due to human error. Wolfe said she is not surprised because that is why a canvass is done.

“We certainly are not seeing anything unusual. This is why we canvass,” said Wolfe.

Canvassing generic image.
Canvassing generic image.

Once all the canvasses are finished, a candidate then has 24 hours to request a recount and it also must be paid for before it can start.

If a recount is approved by the state, then it must be done within 13 days.

Milwaukee Central Count facility
Election workers process absentee ballots at Milwaukee's central count location.

“Once the recount starts they can’t adjourn for more than a day. So that means if they choose Thanksgiving Day as their day to adjourn they have to come on Friday and over the weekend as well,” said Wolfe.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip