A group of renowned computer scientists and lawyers have urged Hillary Clinton to challenge the election results in three key states after they gathered "evidence" to suggest the election results were potentially manipulated.

The group of activists, including voting rights lawyer John Bonifaz and J Alex Halderman, director of the University of Michigan's center for computer security and society, believe their evidence shows that results in these three battleground states - which lost Ms Clinton the election on 8 November - might have been hacked.

As reported by New York Magazine, the group is not speaking on the record but is privately lobbying Clinton’s team to challenge the election results.

In Wisconsin, Ms Clinton received 7 per cent fewer votes in counties that depended on electronic-voting machines compared to countries that used optical scanners and paper ballots, and consequently Ms Clinton may have lost up to 30,000 votes. She lost Wisconsin by 27,000 votes.

Expand Close Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a campaign rally the Air Wilmington Hangar located at Wilmington International Airport November 5, 2016 in Wilmington, North Carolina. With less than a week before Election Day in the United States, Trump and his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, are campaigning in key battleground states that each must win to take the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a campaign rally the Air Wilmington Hangar located at Wilmington International Airport November 5, 2016 in Wilmington, North Carolina. With less than a week before Election Day in the United States, Trump and his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, are campaigning in key battleground states that each must win to take the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The group has already held a call with Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and campaign general counsel Marc Elias to argue that while they have not found conclusive evidence of a hack, the pattern in their results merits an independent review.

Ms Clinton has made no indication she would challenge the results and the White House is intent on a smooth transition.

The deadline to file for a vote recount is between Friday and next Wednesday for the three states.

The vote in Michigan has still not been called as the results on 8 November were very close - and the 16 electoral votes in the state have not been proportioned to either Mr Trump or Ms Clinton.

Expand Close Republican president-elect Donald Trump walks on stage along with his son Barron Trump (C) and his wife Melania Trump to deliver his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Republican president-elect Donald Trump walks on stage along with his son Barron Trump (C) and his wife Melania Trump to deliver his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Mr Trump has 290 electoral college votes, compared to Ms Clinton’s 232 votes. Michigan is likely to be given to the Republican side.

Ms Clinton would need to win Michigan and overturn the results in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to win the electoral college.

Expand Close Republican president-elect Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd along with his wife Melania Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Republican president-elect Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd along with his wife Melania Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Another factor is so-called "faithless electors" who will not vote for the candidate which won in the popular vote in their state. So far, six electoral college voters said they would not vote for Mr Trump.

Meanwhile more than 4.5 million people have signed a petition for more electoral college delegates to defy the instructions given to them in their state.

Expand Close Rivals Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands before one of their political debates in the run up to the US presidential election Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rivals Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands before one of their political debates in the run up to the US presidential election Photo: AP Photo/David Goldman

There have only been 157 faithless electors throughout history but they have never overturned an election.

Mr Trump said on Tuesday during a meeting with the New York Times that he was “never a fan” of the electoral college and he would have preferred to win in the popular vote.

Heba Abedin, the sister of Ms Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin, called on Facebook for people to phone the justice department and request an audit of the vote.

"They are starting to recognise there really is something off about the election results as they come in," she wrote.

Ms Clinton said during the third presidential debate that Mr Trump's refusal to definitely accept the election result if he lost was "horrifying".

(Independent.co,uk)

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close (L-R) Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) shows Melania Trump, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and Vice-President Mike Pence the Mall from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts REUTERS Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) (L) shows Melania Trump (R) and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (C) the Mall from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts REUTERS (L-R) Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) shows Melania Trump and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump the Mall from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY REUTERS Congressional pages react after U.S. President-elect Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walked past them to meet at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst REUTERS U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) (L) shows Melania Trump and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump the Mall from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts REUTERS U.S. President-elect Trump (2nd R), his wife Melania Trump (R), Vice President-elect Mike Pence (4th R) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (3rd R) walk together to meet in McConnell's office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst REUTERS U.S. Vice President-elect Mike Pence (2nd L) smiles as he and President-elect Trump (2nd R) walk with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (R) to McConnell's office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst REUTERS President-elect Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trumpwalk to a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (C) walks with his wife Melania Trump, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (2nd R) walks with his wife Melania Trump, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump walks onto a balcony at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images (From L to R) Melania Trump, US President-elect Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Vice President-elect Mike Pence meet at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (2nd R) walks with his wife Melania Trump, Vice President-elect Mike Pence (L) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / YURI GRIPASYURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (C) walks with his wife Melania Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / YURI GRIPASYURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Melania Trump listens to her husband US President-elect Donald Trump speak to the press at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (L), walks with President-elect Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day president-elect Trump met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty Images Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (2L), walks with President-elect Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence (L), at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty Images Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (2L), walks with President-elect Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence (L), at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (C) walk with Vice President-elect Pence (L) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell(R) R-KY on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / YURI GRIPASYURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (C) walks with his wife Melania Trump and Vice President-Elect Pence (2nd L) before a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell(L) R-KY on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on November 10, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / YURI GRIPASYURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump shake hands following their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) AP President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) AP President Barack Obama listens to President-elect Donald Trump speak to members of the media during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) AP President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) AP U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss transition plans in the White House Oval Office in Washington, U.S., November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY REUTERS President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) AP Journalists gather on the driveway in front of the West Wing in anticipation of the arrival of President-Elect Donald Trump at the White House. 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Whatsapp (L-R) Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) shows Melania Trump, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and Vice-President Mike Pence the Mall from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

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