Minnesota Recount Blog

Reports from non-partisan observers

These blog reports are from the non-partisan observers who are part of a joint effort sponsored by Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota, League of Women Voters Minnesota and Common Cause Minnesota (Learn more about this effort »)

This effort is the only statewide, trained, non-partisan presence at the recounts.

Recount Report: Minneapolis Update, December 3rd, 2:58pm

Submitted by mark on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 15:02

The observer reports that in Minneapolis W3 P1 officials counted 129 write-in ballots. The election officials believe these ballots (which are stored separately in the optical scanner) were initially not labeled correctly and were inadvertently run through the optical scanner a second time on election day. The election officials believe this explains almost all of the 133 unaccounted ballots in the precinct. Officials are looking into the remaining 4 uncounted ballots. The observe reports that the process has been very transparent and smooth.

MN Recount Report: Update for Dakota County, December 3rd, 1:40PM

Submitted by mark on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:44

The observer last week reported missing ballots in Lakeville precinct 10 and Inver Grove Heights precinct 04. We weren't able to get a full explanation until today when CEIMN Director Mark Halvorson spoke to Kevin Boyle from Dakota County Elections Department. Kevin reported that in Lakeville precinct 10 there were duplicate ballots that were counted twice. However the original ballots cannot be found. Kevin reported that in Inver Grove Heights precinct 04 they don't have an explanation for why ballots are missing for both candidates lost a total of 20 ballots.

MN Recount Report: Minneapolis Update, Dec 3rd, 1:29PM

Submitted by mark on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:28

The observer reports that in Minneapolis W3 P1 the recount tally showed 133 fewer ballots compared to the election day tally. Observer reports that the election officials believe that the write-in ballots were entered into the optical scanner twice. They have sorted out the write-in ballots and are currently counting them.

The observer reports that the count in Minneapolis W5 P5 has finished and the result is the same as what they got on 11/20/08.

MN Recount Report: Minneapolis, December 3rd, 12:28pm

Submitted by sarah on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 12:27

The observer reports that Director of Elections, Cindy Reichert, decided to conduct a second recount of Minneapolis, W5 P5. Officials said the reason is that the first recount did not match the Election Day tally. The precinct was originally recounted on 11/20/08.

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MN Recount Report: Ramsey, December 2nd, 12:45pm

Submitted by sarah on Tue, 12/02/2008 - 12:51

In Maplewood, P-6, the head counter reported they were 132 ballots over after several counts. Note, just minutes ago in an interview with MPR, Joe Manksy, Director of Elections for Ramsey County reported they found 171 ballots that weren't counted on election day.

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MN Recount Report: Le Sueur, December 1st, 8:49pm

Submitted by sarah on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 23:01

The observer reports that officials finished about 35% of the precinct today and there are 11 challenged ballots so far.

MN Recount Report: Minneapolis, December 1st, 5:00pm

Submitted by sarah on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 17:02

The observer reports that Minneapolis has added four more counting tables.
Officials expect counting will continue throughout the week. The observer
reports 41 challenges from today, however the precincts had not fully
finished counting. Everything was very smooth today.

MN Recount Observer Report Sherburne County, Nov. 26th, 4:21PM

Submitted by mark on Wed, 11/26/2008 - 16:22

The observer arrived about 8:15AM and stayed until 5PM yesterday, 11/25. The counting started about 8:45AM. He reported there were six counting tables. He was able to see the ballots clearly only at three tables and the other three were 15 to 20 feet away. The observer reported the following: there were very few challenges in the early morning and through early afternoon. Around 2PM the number of challenges escalated dramatically at the table closest to him.

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MN Recount Report: Becker County Update, Nov 25th, 8:17PM

Submitted by mark on Tue, 11/25/2008 - 20:17

The observer reported that just learned from the county auditor that the 9 ballots that were reported missing late this afternoon have now been found.

MN Recount Report: Becker County Update, Nov. 25th, 5:35PM

Submitted by mark on Tue, 11/25/2008 - 17:31

The observer just reported the full story in Becker County. This morning 32 ballots (not 35 ballots as we earlier reported) were missing from one precinct and 14 ballots were missing from another precinct. Officials first checked the supply box in the same secured room as the ballots, but they did not find the missing ballots. Next, the officials contacted city officials and sent county representatives to the township halls in both precincts. The ballots were located in locked ballot boxes under the optical scan voting machines in both township halls.

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