A federal judge who ordered Michigan to start recounting presidential votes has dropped his decision, effectively ending a second look at ballots statewide.
Judge Mark Goldsmith acted Wednesday night, a day after the state appeals court said the Green Party candidate isn’t eligible to seek a recount of millions of vote cast Nov. 8.
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Earlier Wednesday, the Michigan elections board said the recount would end if Goldsmith extinguished his earlier order.
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It was Goldsmith’s midnight ruling Monday that started the recount in Michigan. But his order dealt with timing – not whether a recount was appropriate. More than 20 counties so far are recounting ballots, and some are finished.
The state appeals court said Tuesday that Jill Stein doesn’t qualify as an “aggrieved” candidate under state law because she got only 1 per cent of the Michigan vote and can’t win with a recount. Stein is appealing to the Michigan Supreme Court.