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Greens Rally in Michigan as State Courts Weigh Recounts

by Reuters

   LANSING, MICHIGAN --

   Green Party supporters rallied in freezing temperatures in Michigan's
   capital Thursday and urged its high court to revive a recount of
   presidential votes in one of three states where the party wants ballots
   re-examined.

   About 50 people marched in a circle for about an hour in front of the
   Michigan Supreme Court, where Green Party presidential candidate Jill
   Stein has asked the justices to hear an appeal. As a light snow fell,
   they beat on pots and pans and shouted, "Come out of hiding and start
   recounting!"

   Even if recounts were completed in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
   as Stein has asked, they would be extremely unlikely to change the
   outcome of the November 8 election in which Republican Donald Trump
   defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

   Although Clinton won the national popular vote, she lost to Trump in
   the Electoral College, the 538-person body chosen state by state that
   actually selects the president. Trump, who won a projected 306
   electoral votes, takes office January 20. Stein won no Electoral
   College votes.

   The three Rust Belt states narrowly supported Trump, reversing their
   recent history of backing Democratic candidates for president.

   A recount is ongoing in Wisconsin, where a federal judge has scheduled
   a hearing for Friday in a lawsuit by Trump's supporters who wish to
   halt it.

   In Pennsylvania, a federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday
   in a lawsuit brought by Stein asking to begin a statewide recount
   there.

   No ground to challenge

   A federal judge on Wednesday halted the Michigan recount in its third
   day by siding with a state appeals court that found Stein did not have
   ground to mount the challenge. Stein said the recount was aimed at
   reinforcing the integrity of Michigan's voting system, while Trump
   supporters called it a waste of money.

   Looking at paper ballots is the only way to ensure voting machines were
   not hacked, Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer
   scientist, said at Thursday's rally.

   "I know Michigan's voting system can be hacked. The only security
   measure Michigan has is the paper ballot," he said.

   The state's Supreme Court could rule at any time on Stein's appeal.
   Stein has also asked two of the court's justices to disqualify
   themselves because they are on Trump's list of potential U.S. Supreme
   Court nominees.

   Federal law requires states to resolve disputes over the appointment of
   Electoral College voters by December 13.