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Home Front: Politix
Minnesota Court Denies ColemanÂ’s Request on Ballots
2008-12-25
Dec. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in his U.S. Senate recount battle with Democrat Al Franken, refusing to order election officials to throw out more than 100 ballots ColemanÂ’s campaign says may have been double-counted.

Franken says he holds a lead of 35 to 50 votes out of nearly 3 million cast. The courtÂ’s decision means any election result will wind up being challenged in court, ColemanÂ’s lawyer said.

“This ensures that no certificate of election will be issued” because it is inevitable the recount will be challenged, Fritz Knaak, Coleman’s lawyer, said in a statement. A legal challenge would mean Minnesota won’t have the Senate race decided by the Jan. 6 start of the next term, he said.

State election officials are trying to certify the results in the next few weeks.

ColemanÂ’s campaign argued to the court that in 25 precincts, voters whose ballots were damaged were given duplicate ballots, allowing them to vote twice. Most of those were Franken voters, Coleman said.

“Today’s unanimous ruling means that the process can move forward despite attempts to halt its progress,” Franken spokesman Andy Barr said in a statement. The recount “we strongly believe will result in the election of Al Franken.”

The decision leaves it to state election officials to continue their review. More than 1,000 absentee ballots must also be sent to state election officials by Jan. 2, according to a ruling earlier today by the same court.

Additional hearings of the canvassing board will be held Dec. 30 and Jan. 5 to address disagreements over spreadsheets of votes and absentee ballots, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said yesterday.

Posted by:Beavis

#2  Trouble was the Minn. election was within the Democrats margin of fraud. Like the 2004 Wash. Governor's race.
Posted by: DMFD   2008-12-25 14:03  

#1  It was staggering that the Dummos could get Bambino thru the gate. But to get a certified idiot into the Senate may top that. (course it is Hubert Humphrey territory) And, yes, still working that Princess coronation in New Yawk.
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700   2008-12-25 11:29  

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