The Wisconsin recount of the 2016 presidential election has completed its second day, as clerks in 72 counties worked to complete the task in 11 days. (You can watch video of the Dane County recount above).
So far, the results have not changed anything significant in a state Donald Trump won by about 22,000 votes. As of December 4, the day 4 updates from the Wisconsin Election Commission were showing that, overall, Trump had gained a few dozen more votes in the presidential race. (Both Clinton and Trump had posted small net gains, but Trump had more of them, meaning he’s inched a few more votes ahead overall in Wisconsin. All of the data specifics are listed later in this post).
On December 2, according to the Wisconsin State Journal, a group of Donald Trump supporters asked a federal judge to stop the recount, saying it violates equal protection clauses because the state doesn’t have uniform standards for recounts and could miss the December 13 federal deadline for completing election results because of it. The judge ruled the recount will continue until a December 9 hearing.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker also said he would contemplate a state law change to make it harder to see recounts.
Although it was extremely early, in some of the smaller municipalities where the recounts happened faster, Donald Trump had actually gained a couple of votes in the first few hours of the Wisconsin recount, and that trend continued on Day 2. Several little villages reported no change in their results. Large populous areas’ returns were not yet in.
The Wisconsin Election Commission is updating results each day. The day 2 results spreadsheet can be found here. You can see the spreadsheet for day 1 here.
The spreadsheet was largely blank at the end of the day on day 1 of the recount, although one smaller county – Menominee – had completed its recount. The results: Jill Stein (perhaps ironically) gained the most votes, but nothing significant enough to change anything (Trump lost 2 and Clinton lost 1). Trump won Wisconsin by a margin of about 22,000 votes.
The recount was requested by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who shelled out $3.5 million in donated money to pay for it. The cost is estimated at more than $3.8 million. Stein is also raising funds for recounts in Michigan and Pennsylania (she missed the deadline in the latter, meaning she has an uphill battle to even get a recount, which she is pursuing in court. On December 1, Trump filed an objection to the Michigan recount, which was supposed to start December 2).
Donald Trump won all three states by small margins.
Trump has derided the Stein-driven recounts as a “scam” even as he has questioned the election’s integrity in other states without providing evidence to back up his claims. A Wisconsin judge ruled against Stein’s request for a hand count of the Wisconsin ballots, saying that she had not provided evidence of hacking or election manipulation; The Wisconsin Election Commission says 47 of the 72 counties have decided to do hand counts and the others will use optical scanners or a combination.
Tabulators work on recounting presidential ballots in Dane County (Wis.) on December 1, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. Green Party candidate Jill Stein has requested Wisconsin and other states to recount the U.S. presidential election. (Photo by Andy Manis/Getty Images)
Wisconsin recount observers were keeping their eye on a few counties when it comes to chances of overturning the results:
Vote counts to watch in Wisconsin #Recount2016 #WIRecount Why Wisconsin’s Presidential Results Are So Unbelievable t.co/iBVbqq6UFb
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has said it is participating in the Wisconsin recount, although her campaign lawyer penned an article in The Washington post, stressing that Clinton did not seek the recount. Clinton would need to flip Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to win the Electoral College, a task that most experts think is pretty insurmountable as no presidential recount has overturned even the closest margin of the three.
Recount Results
Day 5 – the Most Recent Data as of December 5:
Day 5 Totals
Trump has lost 302 votes.
Trump has gained 386 votes.
Trump net vote gain by Day 5: 84 votes
Clinton has lost 293 votes.
Clinton has gained 351 votes.
Clinton net vote gain by Day 5: 58 votes
Trump total net gain: 26 votes
Day 3 and 4 – the Most Recent Data as of December 4
TOTAL:
Trump gained 356 votes
Trump lost 246 votes
Trump net gain on day 4: 110 votes
Clinton gained 296 votes
Clinton lost 225 votes
Clinton net gain on day 4: 71 votes
Where Donald Trump lost votes
Adams County -12
Brown County -3
Buffalo County -3
Calumet County -6
Chippewa County -1
Clark County -2
Columbia County -2
Crawford County -11
Dane County -6
Dodge County -10
Door County -4
Douglas County -6
Dunn County -5
Eau Claire County -1
Fond du Lac County -10
Forest County -3
Grant County -16
Green Lake County -8
Iowa County -1
Iron County -9
Jackson County -1
Jefferson County -1
Juneau County -11
Kenosha County -3
Manitowoc County -3
Marathon County -8
Marinette County -5
Marquette County -3
Menominee County -2
MKE County City of Cudahy -2
MKE County Village of Brown Deer -1
Monroe County -7
Oneida County -1
Outagamie County -6
Pierce County -1
Polk County -4
Portage County -3
Price County -7
Racine County -8
Richland County -11
Rock County -1
Sauk County -1
Shawano County -1
St. Croix County -3
Walworth County -4
Washburn County -2
Washington County -4
Waukesha County -7
Waupaca County -9
Waushara County -1
Winnebago County -6
(Trump -1 South Milwaukee. Appears that SM returns were placed on the St. Francis line)
Where Donald Trump gained votes
Adams County +4
Barron County +4
Brown County +5
Buffalo County +2
Calumet County +6
Clark County +5
Columbia County +3
Crawford County +3
Dane County +12
Dodge County +4
Douglas County +6
Eau Claire County +19
Fond du Lac County +1
Forest County +2
Grant County +6
Green Lake County +11
Jackson County +1
Jefferson County +9
Juneau County +7
Kenosha County +7
Kewaunee County +1
Manitowoc County +7
Marathon County +2
Marinette County +3
Marquette County +2
MKE CO City of Cudahy +1
MKE Co Village of Greendale +1
MKE Co Village of Hales Corners +1
Monroe County +2
Oneida County +6
Outagamie County +3
Ozaukee County +33
Pierce County +11
Polk County +1
Portage County +8
Price County +4
Racine County +10
Richland County +5
Rock County +3
Sauk County +9
Shawano County +19
St. Croix County +3
Trempeleau County +5
Walworth County +16
Washburn County +33
Washington County +18
Waukesha County +1
Waupaca County +22
Waushara County +1
Winnebago County +6
Wood County +2
Where Hillary Clinton lost votes
Adams County -11
Brown County -4
Buffalo County -2
Calumet County -6
Chippewa County -1
Clark County -4
Columbia County -5
Crawford County -7
Dane County -5
Dodge County -2
Door County -10
Douglas County -2
Fond du Lac County -12
Forest County -5
Grant County -13
Green Lake County -9
Iron County -1
Jefferson County -1
Juneau County -5
Kenosha County -2
Manitowoc County -7
Marathon County -8
Marinette County -5
Marquette County -2
Menominee County -1
MKE Co City of Cudahy -1
MKE Co Village of Bayside -1
MKE Co Village of Fox Point -1
Monroe County -4
Outagamie County -9
Polk County -4
Portage County -4
Price County -7
Racine County -7
Richland County -6
Rock County -6
Sauk County -2
Shawano County -1
Trempeleau County -3
Walworth County -4
Washburn County -1
Washington County -7
Waukesha County -2
Waupaca County -2
Winnebago County -19
Wood County -4
Where Hillary Clinton gained votes
Adams County +2
Brown County +5
Calumet County +5
Columbia County +3
Crawford County +1
Dane County +39
Dodge County +3
Douglas County +14
Eau Claire County +30
Fond du Lac County +2
Grant County +13
Green Lake County +1
Iron County +3
Jefferson County +10
Juneau County +6
Kenosha County +5
Kewaunee County +4
Manitowoc County +24
Marathon County +3
Marinette County +1
Marquette County +2
MKE CO Village of Brown Deer +1
Oneida County +1
Outagamie County +1
Ozaukee County +1
Pierce County +4
Polk County +2
Portage County +11
Price County +5
Racine County +37
Richland County +2
Rock County +1
Sauk County +5
Sawyer County +1
Shawano County +6
St. Croix County +2
Trempeleau County +1
Walworth County +10
Washington County +4
Waukesha County +1
Waupaca County +12
Waushara County +1
Winnebago County +9
Wood County +2
Day 2 – the Most Recent Data as of December 3
Here are the Day 2 tallies. Note that the City of Milwaukee wards are not included. That’s because the Election Commission reports that the city tallies don’t yet include absentee ballots, so, while they show big losses for both candidates by ward, they are very misleading at this stage. Also, the Election Commission’s spreadsheet showed losses for the small Town of Woodland. The Town of Woodland Clerk told Heavy that another town’s returns were transposed accidentally by the Commission onto Woodland’s line. Thus, Heavy is using the Clerk of Courts’ returns.
WHERE TRUMP LOST VOTES
Adams County -11
Brown County -1
Buffalo County -3
Clark County -1
Columbia County -1
Crawford County -4
Dane County -3
Dodge County -3
Douglas County -1
Dunn County -1
Fond du Lac -8
Forest County -2
Green Lake County -3
Iron County -9
Marathon County -4
Menominee County -2
MKE County – City of Cudahy -2
MKE County – Village of Brown Deer -1
Monroe County -5
Outagamie County -1
Pierce County -1
Polk County -4
Portage County -10
Price County -3
Richland County -3
Sauk County -1
St. Croix County -2
Washington County -1
Winnebago County -1
Total lost without Woodland: -92
Town of Woodland, Sauk County (per the Election Commission’s spreadsheet) -203
Town of Woodland, Sauk County (per the Clerk of Courts in an email to Heavy) no votes lost
Using the Clerk’s totals, Trump’s total votes lost in day 2 was 92 votes.
WHERE TRUMP GAINED VOTES
Adams County +4
Barron County +3
Calumet County +2
Clark County +3
Columbia County +2
Crawford County +3
Dane County +3
Dodge County +1
Douglas County +4
Eau Claire County +5
Green Lake County +7
Jefferson County +6
Juneau County +3
Kenosha County +3
Kewaunee County +1
Manitowoc County +5
Marinette County +3
Marquette County +1
MKE County – City of Cudahy +1
MKE County – Village o Hales Corners +1
Monroe County +2
Outagamie +1
Polk County +1
Portage County +1
Price County +3
Richland County +4
Sauk County +3
Shawano County +7
St. Croix County +1
Walworth County +5
Washington County +3
Waupaca County +3
Waushara County +1
Wood County +1
The Town of Woodland Clerk of Courts tells Heavy that Trump gained 1 vote in the Town of Woodland recount.
+98 votes
Day 2 totals
Trump gained 98 votes
Trump lost 92 votes
Trump has a net gain of six votes in day 2 of the recount.
WHERE CLINTON LOST VOTES
Adams County -8
Buffalo County -1
Calumet County -1
Clark County -3
Columbia County -3
Crawford County -3
Dane County -4
Door County -3
Douglas County -1
Fond du Lac County -9
Forest County -2
Green Lake County -4
Iron County -1
Juneau County -4
Manitowoc County -6
Marathon County -4
Marquette County -2
Menominee County -1
Cudahy (MKE Co) -1
Village of Bayside (MKE Co) -1
Monroe County -4
Polk County -4
Price County -3
Richland County -1
Town of Woodland, Sauk County (per the Election Commission Spreadsheet) -132 (However, the Clerk of Courts tells Heavy that Clinton actually lost no votes in the Town of Woodland recount)
Shawano County -1
Walworth -1
Washington County -3
Winnebago County -5
Wood County -2
Clinton lost 86 votes (counting Woodland as no loss)
WHERE CLINTON GAINED VOTES
Adams County +1
Brown County +1
Calumet County +1
Columbia County +1
Crawford County +1
Dane County +21
Douglas County +7
Eau Claire County +5
Green Lake County +1
Iron County +3
Jefferson County +8
Juneau County +3
Kenosha County +1
Marathon County +2
Village of Brown Deer +1
Outagamie County +1
Pierce County +1
Polk County +2
Portage County +8
Price County +4
Richland County +2
Sauk County +1
Shawano County +3
Walworth +7
Washington County +2
Wood County +1
Gained 89 votes
Day 2 totals: Clinton gained 89 votes but lost 86 for a net gain of 3 votes.
OVERALL
Clinton gained 3 votes
Trump gained 6 votes
Net Trump gain of 3 votes on Day 2
The Wisconsin Election Commission’s daily spreadsheet with updated recount results will be updated at midday every day here.
On December 1, the spreadsheet was still largely blank, although the Commission reported that Menominee County had completed its results. The recount found a few errors, but they only really benefited third party candidates – ironically, Jill Stein was one of them (and nowhere close to being significant overall). Per the Election Commission for day 1:
“This is the explanation provided by the Menominee County Clerk for the differences in numbers between the canvass and the recount:
Johnson/Weld — different by 12 due to human error. Didn’t get added to our tally sheet.
Stein/Baraka — different by 17 due to human error. Wards 1,3,4,5 didn’t get added to tally sheet.”
The spreadsheet showed Clinton, who won the county, lost 1 vote and Trump lost 2.
Some municipalities didn’t report many changes:
Four towns now done in @browncountywi. Only change: @HillaryClinton gaining a vote in Holland #WIRecount @fox11news
#WIRecount “They matched exactly” says official from River Hills. 1st municipality to finish in MKE county. @fox6now
AT 5: A live #WIrecount update from @browncountywi. Towns of Eaton and Glenmore recounts had no changes @fox11news
Here’s the final results for the town of Middleton. Total # of ballots cast matched exactly, additions are from ballots marked “creatively”
From Hudson: Emerald & Erin Prairie recounts finished with no change for Clinton or Trump. Live video: t.co/jwsbgiBe0p #WIRecount
So far today, Calumet has counted 2 wards of 35 (but 2 of those 35 don’t have voters). Only change was 2 more votes for Trump #WIRecount
Results in wards 1-5 of Village of Waunakee matched perfectly to election night results. #news3 #wirecount
Cheers in room 357 as they announce Town of Middleton votes match election night results. #news3 #WIRecount
In Oneida Co, no adjustments for Clinton or Trump on the townships hand counted so far. #WIRecount @WAOW
Wisconsin Recount Photos
Here are some photos from the Wisconsin recount:
Town of Montrose now starting (a very small pile) #WIRecount #news3
After three hours and 15 mins, these are the first Milwaukee Co. ballots to be recounted. They come from the City of Milwaukee. #WIRecount
Feeding ballots into voting machines as recount gets underway in Rock Co. #WIRecount
Now sorting ballots from Eau Galle, Emerald & Erin Prairie WI. Wisconsin recount in Hudson. Live video: t.co/HXAxFHiU8E #WIRecount
.@browncountywi clerk Sandy Juno says it was a hectic morning; #WIrecount here began 2 hours ago @fox11news
Live Stream & Other Videos of the Wisconsin Recount
After a lunch break, the #WIRecount is back on in Oneida Co. A public test on the counting machines scheduled for 1:30. @WAOW
This post will be updated as more results come in.
