A study released Monday by the Anderson Economic Group found no evidence in Michigan to back up President Donald Trump's claim that millions of "illegal" votes cost him the popular vote. Researchers conducted a forensic analysis of the results and found the percentage of votes for Hillary Clinton were down compared to the number of votes for Barack Obama in 2012 in 9 of the 10 counties with the highest immigrant population.
The study also failed to find evidence backing up claims of fraud, conspiracy or hacking of voting machines made during the fight over the recount requested by Green Party candidate Jill Stein following the election.
Anderson Economic Group C.E.O. Patrick Anderson released the statement about the study:
"This round of tests, like the last one, clearly indicates no evidence for systematic fraud, tampering, or hacking of voting machines. Furthermore, it demonstrates that both high and low immigrant-population counties did not vote in the manner suggested by the allegation of '3-5 million illegals' voting for the Democratic Party candidate in 2016. After two rounds of election forensics, a multi-million dollar recount effort, and the certification by bipartisan board of canvassers, this is now the most-vetted presidential election in Michigan history."
Researchers say the methods used for the forensic analysis of Michigan's results could be used in other states. It has been applied in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania but those results have not been released. The report cautions against extending the analysis of Michigan's results to other states for now.
