(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/25/2024) Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) in the 44th House District submitted the only recount from the Nov. 5 General Election to the Secretary of State before Monday's deadline. 

Haadsma was 61 votes behind Steve Frisbie as the votes were certified by the Board of State Canvassers on Friday. Certification opened the door for recounts to be filed, which needs to be paid for by the requester and is linked to the margin between the votes. 

"We are confident we will prevail, and will be in the House in 2025," Frisbie said. 

The 61-vote win by Frisbie came after a re-tabulation of the votes from Battle Creek after the canvass in Calhoun County found that roughly 2,800 uncounted absentee votes were uncounted because of an error with a flash drive. 

"A recount will confirm that the data transfer error involving the AVCBs for Battle Creek and all ballots that included a write-in candidate have been correctly counted," Chris Trebilcock, Haadsma's lawyer, said.  

Trebilcock said the Calhoun County canvass was "not transparent" and that a recount would remove any doubt about the count. 

"The statements about the canvassers not being transparent are baffling. They were in the room the whole time," Frisbie said. 

Trebilcock said a recount was standard fare for a close race. 

"We trust that the hand recount will reach the correct result," he said.