County Clerk begins recount

St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald said she and a team of more than two dozen people will head to Dowagiac this morning to begin what she hopes is a one-day task of recounting presidential ballots.
Oswald, who is completing her first full calendar year as St. Joseph County clerk, said the recount of 23,967 presidential ballots cast in the county Nov. 8 will take place with Cass County officials at Southwestern Michigan College.
She said a team of 24 people will take part in St. Joseph County’s recount, Most of the team members are volunteers, though Oswald said she will have some staff members on hand, as well.
Oswald said the arrangement was made with Cass County because its clerk, Monica Kennedy, was able to secure a facility large enough for such a production in such a short period of time.
State officials have estimated the recount will cost Michigan up to $4 million. Oswald was unable to determine ahead of time a breakdown on what expense will be borne onto St. Joseph County specifically.
The recount is being done at the request of Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein.