With this well-tested procedure, we might get not only better elections but also better campaigns.
By DAVID DURENBERGER
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
The state Canvassing Board dealt Democrat Al Franken's campaign a serious blow today when it rejected the campaign's call to review rejected absentee ballots. Franken's attorneys have argued that many absentee ballots were inappropriately set aside and should be included in the recount.
St. Paul, Minn. (AP) — The Canvassing Board hearing lasted only an hour, but the action taken could mean that Minnesota's already long U.S. Senate race could be headed to the courts for an extended overtime.
by Than Tibbetts, Minnesota Public Radio
Representatives from the campaigns of Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken have been challenging ballots across the state.
It's your turn to play election judge. Tell us how you would rule in the case of these challenged ballots. Use this Minnesota state statute as your guide.
DAY 3 BALLOTS
Ballot #1: The Signature
by Than Tibbetts, MPR
Lizard People ballotI found this document from the Secretary of State's office that, I believe, is meant to be a guide for election officials. The language is a little more plain than the state's voter intent statute.
Here's the key sentence that solves our Lizard People ballot question:
Count all printed names with a mark made opposite them and all names written-in, not exceeding the number to be elected for that office.
Mankota Free Press
No one was anticipating action-packed excitement, and in that regard, the recount of 2.9 million ballots to determine the official winner of the U.S. Senate race does not disappoint.
Which is pretty much what Minnesotans expected, but nonetheless, are relieved to see. All the brouhaha surrounding the impending recount was getting to be a bit much. And that’s likely the reaction of many voters whether they voted for Republican Sen. Norm Coleman or his challenger, Democrat Al Franken.
By KEVIN DUCHSCHERE and the ASSOCIATED PRESS , Star Tribune
The weekend isn't bringing any respite in the Minnesota Senate recount.
Ballots in the ultra-close race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken are being counted in at least three counties today.
Fifty-three counties have reported complete results to the secretary of state, meaning fewer than three dozen remain. As of Friday night, at least 60 percent of the estimated 2.9 million ballots had gotten a second look.
By Jay Weiner, MinnPost.com
This whole recount thing just started to bother former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger.
So he joined with a gaggle of other current and former public officials of all political stripes this morning to outline a short list of “principles for transparency” as the Coleman-Franken recount gets ready to blast off Wednesday.
by Mark Zdechlik, Minnesota Public Radio,
Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
Election officials throughout Minnesota have begun recounting nearly three million ballots to determine who won the U.S. Senate race. As local officials hand count those ballots, representatives from the campaigns of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken are closely watching, ready to challenge any decisions they disagree with.
By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune
Call it a sneak preview of the recount.
Twenty men and women settled in along tables at the Ramsey County elections office first thing Monday morning and began plowing through more than 7,700 ballots cast last Tuesday in the U.S. Senate race.
After nearly three hours of counting, Norm Coleman had lost exactly one net vote in five of the county's precincts. Al Franken had gained exactly one.
This isn't a recount, but it sure looks like one.
By Julian Sanchez, ars technica
You can almost see Al Franken facing himself in the mirror each morning since election day: "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough... but do the voters like me?" A final answer in the erstwhile comedian's still-undecided U.S. Senate race against incumbent Norm Coleman won't come until after November 19, when Minnesota begins a manual recount. But since election night, Coleman's already razor-thin lead has narrowed—and many are wondering whether the optical scan readers used to tally ballots might have gotten it wrong.
