County canvass deadline approaching; no Trump recount filing yet

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Elections Commission is preparing for a possible Trump campaign recount request.

Fifty-five of the state's counties have certified their election results, with 17 left to finish.

They must be done by Nov. 17. Once finished, the Trump campaign has one day to file its recount petition.

"The party would have until 5 p.m. on the following business day," said Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe.

She expects the counties to be done on Nov. 17. She explained the Trump campaign needs to file a recount petition and check to pay for it by five the next day. The election commission will meet on the 19th to act on any such petition.

"Then the commission would meet to order a recount to basically say we've got everything that we need, the recount can begin and we can order a recount," said Wolfe.

A recount order sets a new calendar deadline. The recount must be completed within 13 days after the commission gives the order. Clerks would need to work through the Thanksgiving holiday to wrap up the recount in the first week of December. The recount would check vote totals as well as other crucial information.

"Make sure you have the correct number of registrations, the correct number of signatures in the poll book, the correct number of ballots that have been issued," said Wolfe.

While the Trump campaign said it would file a recount immediately, Wolfe said they've gotten nothing in writing yet.

"At this time we haven't received any indications or confirmation, but again the deadline isn't here yet," said Wolfe.

The 2016 recount cost more than $2 million. Wolfe said a 2020 recount will likely cost more because counties will have to take COVID-19 precautions.