Federal Judge Blocks Presidential Vote Recount in Pennsylvania

Judge squashes Green Party lawsuit to recount the vote in Pennsylvania.

vote sign
WikiCommons

Image via WikiCommons

vote sign

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein's plans to recount the presidential vote in Pennsylvania have been squashed by a federal judge. The Green Party filed a lawsuit to compel the state to recount the paper ballots cast for the presidential election and was turned down Monday by U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond, the Associated Press reports

Diamond rejected the Green Party's suit in a 31-page decision where he wrote that the idea that the election was hacked in Pennsylvania "borders on the irrational," the Associated Press reports. 

"Most importantly, there is no credible evidence that any 'hack' occurred, and compelling evidence that Pennsylvania's voting system was not in any way compromised," Diamond also wrote. The Associated Press reports those who opposed the recount​ include president-elect Donald Trump, Republicans in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania's Attorney General Bruce Beemer​, who is a Democrat. 

A Green Party lawyer, Ilann Maazel, told the Associated Press that they were disappointed with Diamond's decision, but and were not sure whether or not they would appeal. Maazel also added that it's clear that "The Pennsylvania election system is not fair to voters and voters don't know if their votes counted, and that's a very large problem."

The Green Party was able to successfully start a recount in Michigan, but a judge put a stop to it Dec. 8. The recount in Wisconsin wrapped up Monday, with only four counties (including Milwaukee) still certifying their counts. The reporting counties showed some difference in counts, but no numbers so far reveal anything that would tip the state's electoral college vote. 

Latest in Life