Proposed change to election law could force Jill Stein to pay for entire Michigan recount

Legislation that would require Green Party candidate Jill Stein to pay the entire cost of her recount request was approved by the Michigan House Committee on Elections Tuesday. If the change to the election law is passed, it would apply to Stein.

Currently, Stein is required to pay $973,250 for the recount, but the Michigan Secretary of State estimates the cost could be $5 million.

House Bill 6097, sponsored by Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons, would amend Michigan election law regarding recounts.

It would require a candidate asking for a recount to foot the entire bill for the recount if the difference between the petitioner and winner is more than 5-percent of the total number of votes cast in the race.

The bill, if passed, would be retroactive to January 1, 2016.

The bill is headed to the full house for consideration.