A federal judge who ordered Michigan to begin its recount has effectively ended it, tying his decision to a state court ruling that found Green Party candidate Jill Stein had no legal standing to request another look at ballots.

Key points: Ruling seals Donald Trump's narrow victory over Hillary Clinton for Michigan

Ruling seals Donald Trump's narrow victory over Hillary Clinton for Michigan Ms Stein did not have a chance of winning even after a recount, the Court says

Ms Stein did not have a chance of winning even after a recount, the Court says Ms Stein got about 1 per cent of the vote in three states where she has pushed for recounts

The ruling seals Republican Donald Trump's narrow victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton for Michigan's 16 electoral votes.

US District Judge Mark Goldsmith agreed with Republicans who argued that the three-day recount must end, a day after the state appeals court dealt a blow to the effort.

The court said Ms Stein, who finished fourth in Michigan on November 8, did not have a chance of winning even after a recount and therefore is not an "aggrieved" candidate.

"Because there is no basis for this court to ignore the Michigan court's ruling and make an independent judgment regarding what the Michigan Legislature intended by the term 'aggrieved', plaintiffs have not shown an entitlement to a recount," Mr Goldsmith said.

It was the judge's midnight ruling on Monday (local time) that started the recount in Michigan, but Goldsmith's order dealt with timing not whether a recount was appropriate.

More than 20 of 83 counties already were counting ballots again. They reported minor changes in vote totals, although many precincts could not be examined for a second time for a variety of reasons.

The Michigan elections board voted, 3-1, earlier on Wednesday to end the recount if Mr Goldsmith extinguished his earlier order.

Stein not legally entitled to hijack 'will of voters'

State Republican Party Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel and Attorney General Bill Schuette said it is a victory for voters and taxpayers.

Ms Stein now is left with asking the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene, which is a long shot.

"Jill Stein, who received only 1.07 per cent of the vote in Michigan, is not legally entitled to hijack the will of voters and drag them into an arduous and expensive publicity stunt," Mr McDaniel said.

Ms Stein got about 1 per cent of the vote in three states — Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — where she has pushed for recounts after crowdfunding $US3.5 million for the filing fees. Mr Trump narrowly won all three.

She insists she is more concerned about the accuracy of the election, but Mr Goldsmith said Ms Stein's legal team presented only "speculative claims" about vulnerable machines, "not actual injury".

The judge said a recount to test the integrity of the voting system "has never been endorsed by any court".

A court hearing will be held on Friday (local time) on a possible recount in Pennsylvania.

Wisconsin's recount, which started last week, has increased Mr Trump's margin of victory over Mrs Clinton thus far.

Mrs Clinton needed all three states to flip in order to take enough electoral votes to win the election.

Mr Trump has 306 electoral votes to Mrs Clinton's 232, with 270 votes needed to win.

Michigan has 16 electoral votes, Pennsylvania has 20 and Wisconsin has 10.

AP/ABC