Recounts May Become Tougher to Have in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis.-The Wisconsin Assembly is set to vote on a bill that would make it far more difficult to request election recounts in the state.

The measure up for a vote Wednesday comes amid anger from some Republicans that Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was able to request a recount in Wisconsin last year even though she finished a distant fourth.

Under the Republican bill, only candidates who trail the winner by 1 percentage point or less in statewide elections could petition for a recount. Democrat Hillary Clinton lost to Republican President Donald Trump by less than that margin in Wisconsin, but Stein – not Clinton – requested the recount.

The proposal also would tighten the recount request deadline.

Gov. Scott Walker has signaled his support for the measure.