Trump campaign will immediately request recount in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump's campaign will immediately request a recount of votes in Wisconsin, even though the state's presidential election results have yet to be finalised.

"There have been reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results," campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement, without providing details of any reports. 

"The President is well within the threshold to request a recount and we will immediately do so.”

Election experts say fraud is very rare in US voting.

Edison Research said the margin between Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden in Wisconsin was less than 1 percentage point, allowing a candidate to seek a recount.

It said Biden had a slight lead in the state, with 99 per cent of the expected votes tallied so far. The former vice president had 49.4 per cent of the vote, while Trump had 48.8 per cent. 

Live updates: America decides between Trump and Biden in historic US election

The fate of the United States presidency is hanging in the balance, with Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, battling for three familiar battleground states - Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania - that could prove crucial in determining who wins the White House.

In the race to the 270 electoral votes needed to win, Biden has 238 while Trump has 213.

Early on Wednesday, Trump said, “We will win this, and as far as I’m concerned we already have won it.”

But the outcome is still unclear in key states Trump would need if he is to win against Democrat Joe Biden.

A recount in Wisconsin during the 2016 presidential election, in which Trump took the state as part of his win against Democrat Hillary Clinton, found only 131 extra votes for Trump.

"20,000 is a high hurdle," former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, a Republican, tweeted.