MADISON, Wisconsin — President Donald Trump will have to pay $7.9 million if he wants a statewide recount of unofficial results in Wisconsinshowing him losing to Democrat Joe Biden by about 20,500 votes.
That is four times higher than what the recount cost four years ago, a cost increase that electionsofficials said was driven by expenses related to conducting a recount during the coronavirus pandemic.
Counties had until Tuesday to certify the election results. Assuming the last county canvass isn’t filed until Tuesday as expected, Trump would then have until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to request the recount. The recount could begin as soon as Thursday and be done no later than Dec. 1.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Monday released the recount timeline and cost estimate, which was based on costs submitted by the 72 counties.
“We still have not received any indication that there will or will not be a recount,” said Meagan Wolfe, the state's chief election official. “But we want Wisconsin’s voters to know we are ready.”
Trump has been raising money off the expected recount and has indicated that he will move ahead with it, even though Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes would not be enough to change the outcome of the race.
