The Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Improperly Rejected Absentee Ballots Be Included

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By KBJR News 1

Story Published: Dec 18, 2008 at 7:09 PM CDT

Story Updated: Dec 19, 2008 at 11:21 AM CDT

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that improperly rejected absentee ballots be included in the state's U.S. Senate recount.

Republican Norm Coleman had opposed counting those absentees, which are estimated at around 1,600. He was clinging Wednesday to a
two-vote lead in the race.

The high court ordered the candidates to work with the Secretary of State and election officials to set up a process to identify
ballots that were rejected in error. Counties must make a report by
Dec. 31.

The Supreme Court said the candidates would then have a chance to challenge the absentees as they are unsealed and counted after that, just as they did during the earlier hand recount.

Justice Alan Page dissented with the ruling. He warned that giving the candidates a say in identifying the ballots was a
mistake.

View Oldest Comments First

Saturday, Dec 20 at 3:27 PM Dave Miller wrote ...

I agree with Justice Page. Candidates are running for election, but they are not in charge of the election-- and shouldn't be seen as running the process.

Thursday, Dec 18 at 11:17 PM Jim Nelson wrote ...

This article is just wrong. The supreme court has said that the Coleman group and Franken group must agree to include the ballots or must challenge them in court. A Coleman victory of sorts. Wow did Duluth get it wrong.

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