Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed new legislation on Monday that restricts election recounts prompted by fraud allegations or when the recount would not change the election outcome.

The new law clarifies that a recount is not an investigation or audit and does not examine voter qualifications or ballot issuance methods. Allegations of fraud must be referred to legal authorities rather than election boards.

Recount petitions can only be filed for precincts with significant ballot imbalances that could alter the election result if corrected. The legislation also increases recount fees to ensure municipalities can manage them effectively and to discourage unnecessary recount requests in non-close races.

Opponents, such as State Representative Ann Bollin, argue that the increased costs could prevent local candidates from verifying election results, undermining public confidence.

The law requires recount requests to be filed within 48 hours of vote certification and criminalizes interference with recount activities, punishable by up to five years in prison.Supporters, including State Senator Stephanie Chang, assert that these measures will strengthen democracy by ensuring accurate ballot counts and modernizing the recount process.