(Detroit, MI – AP) – A federal judge in Detroit has ruled that the recount of Michigan’s presidential results can begin at noon on Monday, a decision that gives the state more time to complete the count ahead of the December 13 deadline. Judge Mark Goldsmith issued his ruling late Sunday night that rejected an effort by state officials to wait two business days to get started hand-counting about 4.8 million ballots. Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein requested a recount, but Republican President-elect Donald Trump sued elections officials to stop it.
Stein’s lawyers argued that waiting until Wednesday to start a recount would cut too close to the December 13 deadline to have it finished. The Green Party also wants recounts in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes in Michigan. Stein received about 1% of the vote
