Trump sweeps Michigan
US President-elect Donald trump added 16 more votes to his total after the Michigan Board of State Canvassers registered Trump's victory against Clinton. The Michigan win gave took Trump's tally to 306 compared to Clinton's 232; Trump is the first Republican to win Michigan since 1988. However, there are 48 hours for any opposition parties or members to call for a recount of votes.
The US presidential elections are an indirect election, where citizens vote for members of the electoral college, who in turn vote directly for the candidates. But, in this system, a candidate can win the popular vote (by the electorate) and still lose the election. Trump, in 2012, tweeted that the US electoral-system was a "disaster for democracy" but has now benefited from the same.
Each American state is given a specific number of electoral votes basis its population. When the popular vote is cast, the electoral college convenes to cast the state's votes for the candidate receiving the most votes. Since electoral votes depend on population, it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote and lose the electoral vote if he/she earns 270 electoral votes.
After winning the election, however, Trump tweeted the electoral college was "actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play." More people across the US voted for Hillary Clinton while Trump won under the electoral college system. Trump won several key swing states very narrowly, while Clinton won big majorities in other states securing more votes but ultimately lost.
US President-elect Donald Trump stated he was the winner of the popular vote on 8 Nov'16 if millions of illegal votes were deducted. Democrat Hillary Clinton's camp said it supports a vote recount in Wisconsin initiated by Green Party. Clinton won about two million votes more than Trump in the popular vote. However, Trump surpassed the necessary 270 electoral votes to become the President.
"It would have been much easier for me to win the so-called popular vote than in the Electoral College in that I would only campaign in 3 or 4 states instead of the 15 states. I would have won even more easily and convincingly!"
Trump narrowly beat Clinton in Wisconsin where Green Party candidate Jill Stein initiated a recount of votes last week. Stein wants to initiate recounts in Pennsylvania and Michigan citing "statistical anomalies." Concerns over Russia's possible interference was also expressed in the run-up to the vote. The US Government said Russian state actors were behind the hacks on Democratic National Committee.
Results in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania need to be overturned to alter the election outcome. Clinton campaign's General Counsel, Marc Elias, said: "We have an obligation to more than 64 million Americans who cast ballots for Hillary Clinton to participate in ongoing proceedings."
During the time of the Presidential Debate, Trump and Clinton clashed over a claim that Russia-backed hackers were influencing the election. Concerns over information manipulations were raised. Several US state reported scanning and probing of election-related systems, like voter databases. US Intelligence said it wouldn't be easy for anyone to intrude and alter ballot counts because of the decentralized system and other protections.
Trump alleged "serious voter fraud" in New Hampshire, Virginia, and California - states won by Clinton - accusing the American media of not bringing up the issue. However, he didn't offer any evidence supporting his claims.
