The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Jill Stein, member of the Green Party and recent presidential nominee, is calling for a recount.
To question the current election results, Stein has raised over $6.5 million dollars to fund recount elections in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, according to her campaign website.
The recounting was kickstarted because Stein thought the elections were swayed by “cyber hacking,” according to Time Magazine. Currently, there is no physical proof that this hacking occurred.
Though there is no proof of error, citizens are adding to the recount fund as a way to double check the election outcome.
Stein received only around one percent of the popular vote nationwide in the November elections. While she is unlikely to win the majority of these three states in a recount, there are many supporters who are donating for the sake of other parties.
Hillary Clinton was thought to win more states than she did in the presidential election, and recounting votes in key states may show Clinton as a majority candidate at second glance.
Kevin Myers, senior biology major and president of the environmental club 350, said the efforts Stein is funding will be beneficial, but the outcome of the election is not likely to change.
“I think that it might raise a little bit more awareness but I don’t think it’ll make a significant impact on how it’ll affect the election,” Myers said.
Current president-elect Trump won the state of Wisconsin by 27,257 votes. He became the first member of the Republican Party to win the state in a presidential election in over 20 years.
Recently, the Trump campaign is taking large action against Stein and her fundraising efforts.
The Trump campaign said that because Stein came in at such a low popularity during that election, she can not be “aggrieved” by the outcome of this past election.
Whether or not Stein creates enough money and support to execute this recount, her fan base has expanded since the initial presidential campaign, according to Time Magazine.
If Stein were to run again, her donor list would have grown because of the many donors who have signed up to donate to her recount effort.
Myers said the recount is a check for citizens to become more aware of who they want to vote for in the future.
“The recount is more like a reminder,” Myers said.
If the money donated exceeds the money needed to fund a recount, Stein said the excess money that she raised will be gifted to a charity or political party.
Alexa Dickson
News Editor
Alexa.S.Dickson@uwsp.edu
