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New law makes recounts tougher, more expensive

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Governor Rick Snyder has signed bills that would make it tougher and more expensive for losing candidates to call a recount of the results.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein got less than 1 percent of the vote in Michigan in 2016. She had virtually no chance of finding enough lost or miscounted votes to emerge the winner, but nevertheless demanded a recount. The state says the 380 thousand dollars paid by the Stein campaign did not cover the costs of the recount, which was halted by a judge before it was completed.

The new law says a candidate demanding a recount must have a reasonable belief they might win if the votes are re-tallied. Also, it would increase the cost from 125 dollars a precinct to 250 dollars.