Michigan elections chief testifies on recount

DETROIT (AP) – The Latest on a federal judge’s ruling on the start of a hand recount of Michigan presidential election ballots (all times local):

6 p.m.

Michigan’s elections director says his office will push to have a hand-recount of 4.8 million ballots cast in November’s presidential election completed before a Dec. 13 deadline.

Chris Thomas testified Sunday in U.S. District Court in Detroit about the difficulty of a recount if it starts two business days following certification of the election. That would mean the recount would likely start Wednesday.

Lawyers for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein want an immediate recount. Stein requested one, but Republican President-elect Donald Trump sued elections officials to stop it.

Thomas said “will certainly take a shot” at counting the ballots before Dec. 13.

Judge Mark Goldsmith said his decision would come Sunday following the hearing.

Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes in Michigan. Stein received about 1 percent of the vote.

___

5:20 p.m.

A federal judge in Detroit is expected to rule on whether a recount of Michigan votes in November’s presidential election can proceed immediately or if elections officials will have to wait two business days to get started hand-counting about 4.8 million ballots.

Judge Mark Goldsmith said his decision would come Sunday following a hearing in U.S. District Court.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein requested a recount, but Republican President-elect Donald Trump sued elections officials to stop it.

Stein’s lawyers argued that waiting until Wednesday to start a recount would cut too close to the Dec. 13 deadline to have it finished.

The Green Party also wants recounts in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes in Michigan. Stein received about 1 percent of the vote.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)