DFL sues over absentee-ballot plan;

DFL sues over absentee-ballot plan; Hennepin County breaks with state officials BY RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER PIONEER PRESS

ST. PAUL The Democratic Farmer-Labor party has filed a lawsuit with the Minnesota Supreme Court against the Minnesota secretary of state and Hennepin County over the way absentee ballots are being handled in the wake of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone’s death.

Already though, Hennepin County, the state’s largest county, has broken ranks with the advice of Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer and Attorney General Mike Hatch over the ballot issue.

Patrick O’Connor, longtime auditor for the county, has decided -- contrary to the opinion of state officials -- to allow people who voted absentee for Wellstone to get a second absentee ballot and vote again.

The DFL party’s lawsuit argues that people who voted absentee should be able to get a new ballot under the state's spoiled ballot provision. A hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday before the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The state’s attorney general and secretary of state were not immediately available to comment on the lawsuit.

On Monday, they both said that people who have already voted absentee for Wellstone would not be allowed to get a new absentee ballot. Those voters could vote in the Senate race via supplemental ballots that will be available in person —- but not by mail —- late this week or they could revote in person on Election Day.

IT'S 7 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION.

WILL IT STILL BE HER SENATE?

GOOD INTENTIONS DON'T WIN ELECTIONS.
ACTION DOES. ACT TODAY.

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A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

They weren't worried about this until they found out the polls were close.

MN law specifically addresses this issue. It says that absentee ballots would be handled "as if no vacancy had occured."

Dems break the law once again.

204B.41 Vacancy in nomination; changing ballots.

When a vacancy in nomination occurs through the death or catastrophic illness of a candidate after the 16th day before the general election, the officer in charge of preparing the ballots shall prepare and distribute a sufficient number of separate paper ballots which shall be headed with the words "OFFICIAL SUPPLEMENTAL BALLOT." This ballot shall contain the title of the office for which the vacancy in nomination has been filled and the names of all the candidates nominated for that office. The ballot shall conform to the provisions governing the printing of other official ballots as far as practicable. The title of the office and the names of the candidates for that office shall be blotted out or stricken from the regular ballots by the election judges. The official supplemental ballot shall be given to each voter when the voter is given the regular ballot or is directed to the voting machine. Regular ballots shall not be changed nor shall official supplemental ballots be prepared as provided in this section during the three calendar days before an election. Absentee ballots that have been mailed prior to the preparation of official supplemental ballots shall be counted in the same manner as if the vacancy had not occurred. Official supplemental ballots shall not be mailed to absent voters to whom ballots were mailed before the official supplemental ballots were prepared.

For emphasis...

Absentee ballots that have been mailed prior to the preparation of official supplemental ballots shall be counted in the same manner as if the vacancy had not occurred. Official supplemental ballots shall not be mailed to absent voters to whom ballots were mailed before the official supplemental ballots were prepared.

I just saw the news piece, it seems in order to print the ballot you have to NAME A REPLACEMENT FIRST!!!

The democrats were playing fast and loose with the rules and attempting to have ballots printed their way without formally to have Mondale take over until the big extravaganza can be ready. (and commercials, and flyers, etc.)

The BS argument is they want multiple languages.

I am looking to have them make a run for the already cast absentee votes. The poor elections supervisor lady was saying she has no way of knowing if a prior welstone voter would want to vote for mondale.

The Democratic Party, to us the rule of law is only a suggestion.

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