MADISON, WI (WSAU) — A memo from the Wisconsin Elections Commission states they have invested in an atomic clock to avoid any confusion about when a possible request for a recount has been received from the Trump campaign.
The clock has been placed in the Commission’s office and synced to Central Standard Time-US in accordance with the National Institute for Standards and Technology. Then, come Wednesday afternoon, they will keep one eye on that clock and another on their inbox, waiting for the Trump camp’s request and the $7.9 million in fees to cover recount expenses.
In the memo, Commissioners make it clear that both the petition and the fee must be received by the time the atomic clock strikes 5 PM. If either the fee or the petition is received after exactly 5:00, even if it’s just by a few seconds, it will be considered late and there will be no recount.
This comes after rapper Kanye West sued the state for inclusion on the 2020 Presidental ballot after he said his paperwork was filed by the 5 PM deadline on the day it was due. West’s representatives said that meant he had until 5:00 and 59 seconds to get everything submitted. A judge ruled that anything submitted after 5:00:00 is considered late.
By Tuesday morning all 72 Wisconsin counties had submitted their vote totals, meaning any recount must be requested by 5 PM the next business day. Final numbers show 20,612 votes separated winner Joe Biden from Donald Trump, well within range for a recount.
Brown County was one of the last to submit their canvassed totals.
