Could The Wisconsin Recount Really Change The Outcome Of The Election?

The Green Party’s Jill Stein has succeeded in demanding a recount of votes in Wisconsin following what some experts have described as ‘irregularities’. Stein has urged Pennsylvania and Michigan to consider recounts as well, though legal challenges haven’t been brought in those states.

Stein’s case focuses on absentee votes rather than electronic voting machines, which many believed would be the crux of the matter. Stein’s team alleges that an unusual number of absentee votes were cast and these high numbers may be the result of interference. If Stein is proven correct, it could have serious repercussions in other swing states.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission said it was moving ahead with recounts after Stein and another third party candidate requested one. Stein raised more than $5 million toward her recount efforts within a few days. Her new target is $7 million and it looks like she will reach that amount shortly. Stein will soon have enough money to cause a recount in Pennsylvania.

Stein’s request for recounts came as a small team of cyber security analysts, political scientists and computer scientists claimed there was evidence of anomalies in swing state voting. They called privately on Hillary Clinton to challenge the results. Only a thorough examination of the results would prove hacking or vote rigging.

Changing the result in Wisconsin will not change the election. The state does not have enough electoral college votes to swing the vote to Clinton. But if credible evidence of vote manipulation is found in Wisconsin, it would support calls for recounts in other key swing states. Recounts in Pennsylvania and Michigan could potentially hand Clinton the White House.