MASON, MI -- Michigan's presidential recount is underway in two counties so far as Attorney General Bill Schuette and the Michigan Republican Party set the stage for more legal battles over the effort.

The recount requested by began in Ingham County and Oakland County Monday after U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith ordered the recount begin immediately.

State law called for the recount to begin two days after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked over President-elect Donald Trump's appeal, effectively allowing the recount to proceed.

But in federal court, Stein argued delaying the recount any further would interfere with getting it done before Dec. 13, the federal "safe harbor" deadline to get finalized results in six days before the Electoral College meets.

In Ingham, 20 two-member teams worked to recount the ballots Monday, with challengers and observers from campaigns and elections staff circling the room as well.

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum said she set an "optimistic goal" of six days to complete the recount and hopes it comes close to that. So far, the effort is going well, Byrum said.

"People are calm and methodical and being respectful and doing a great job," Byrum said.

Byrum, like many other county clerks throughout the state, estimates the cost of the recount will be well above the $125-per-precinct Stein is required to pay. Officials with the Stein campaign have said they were looking into ways to contribute to individual county costs beyond

Secretary of State officials are hoping to begin posting updated recount results each night, which would be found at the office's elections website.

If Republicans have their way in court, the recount effort could still be stopped. The Michigan Republican Party in conjunction with President-elect Donald Trump and Attorney General Bill Schuette both filed suit in state courts to get the recount stopped, which will be given a hearing in the state Court of Appeals 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The Michigan Republican Party also appealed Goldsmith's decision at the federal level Monday, arguing a recount is a decision that should be made at the state level.

The recount will proceed barring a court order, state officials have said.

Trump won in Michigan's presidential election over Democrat Hillary Clinton by a margin of 10,704 votes. Stein came in fourth place in Michigan, earning 1.07 percent of the total vote.