Recount At Option of Local Official?

Apparently Lake County Elections Director Jan F. Clair feels she has the right to decide when to follow the recount provisions of the law:

Clair also informed the four-member board that she will return a check to Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb and his counterpart with the Libertarian Party, Michael Badnarik.


They sent money to Lake County to pay for an automatic recount of presidential election ballots in the county.

Their $10 a precinct falls far short of the full cost, Clair said. Additionally, the two third parties can't seek an automatic recount until the state certifies the election.

She also said some prosecutors should challenge this because it could be considered frivolous.

An additional obstacle would be getting the recount completed before the state's electoral college meets Dec. 13, Clair said. The Lake County recount would take two days, Clair said.