Posted on 12/18/2008 3:54:48 PM PST by Sopater
In a ruling crucial to the disputed U.S. Senate election, the Minnesota Supreme Court Thursday rejected an attempt by incumbent Norm Coleman to block the state Canvassing Board from counting improperly rejected absentee ballots.
However, the court ruled that the campaigns of Coleman and Democrat Al Franken, along with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and vote canvassing boards establish a uniform standard for identifying and counting such absentee ballots. The court said they should then be added to the tally.
As many as 1,600 absentee ballots may have been improperly rejected by local elections officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
If the rules don’t fit the cause, change ‘em.
This is devestating, and my earlier thread reported on the second half of the story but I was misled by the Star-Tribune internet feed. This ruling will give Franken about 100 extra votes. Horrible feeling in my gut, and if Franken takes to the Senate floor, standing and applauding at the State of the Union address. . .horrible.
“However, the court ruled that the campaigns of Coleman and Democrat Al Franken, along with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and vote canvassing boards establish a uniform standard for identifying and counting such absentee ballots. The court said they should then be added to the tally.”
The results will then be multiplied by whatever number is required to bring the actuqal total to three fifths of the final tally, and awarded to Franken, whether he is leading or not and multiplied by pi, then adding the difference between the lesser of the two totals of both...
Since the State SC agreed to hear the case can he now appeal to the SCOTUS if he needs to?
KABC in LA just reported that the current lead by Coleman is 2 (two) votes...
Hey boys.....Welcome to Bendover Acres!!!!!!!
Franken is getting closer to stealing it.
Did I read yesterday that these contested ballots were actually benefiting Coleman?
Two votes. Franken’s right hand and his left hand.
I asked for my earlier thread to be pulled because I only had the positive half of the story correct. Soon I’ll be breaking out the rum.
“Since the State SC agreed to hear the case can he now appeal to the SCOTUS if he needs to?”
I don’t think they would hear it...no stomach for it, IMNSHO...just an opinion, no legal background and no willingness to argue the law...(in case the armchair legal eagles are itching to fight)....
If Franken is that close he will manufacture the extra votes for the lead.
Step right up on the midway here at the grand Minnesota carnival of elections. The Supreme Court of the great state has now entered the fray. Of course the elections board, Al Franken, Norm Coleman, and both political parties have jumped in. So grab your set of rings and see if you can put them around the election bottle neck with 1/64th clearance all the way around.
You could be a wiener...
No offense Minnesotans, but your leaders up there sound almost as if they were as big a clowns as my own state leaders are.
My sympathies to each of you.
“Hey boys.....Welcome to Bendover Acres!!!!!!!”
Ahhhhhhh...in BOHICA County......
“Two votes. Franken’s right hand and his left hand.”
I’m betting his right hand is busy...
I believed that yesterday they reviewed the ballots that Franken had challenged which, of course, would benefit Coleman. Today they reviewed the ballots which Coleman challenged which will benefit Franken.
This ruling is regarding the improperly rejected absentee ballots which absentees typically swing for Republicans. However, with the large “vote early” effort by Democrats this election cycle, I think that Franken is hoping that they will benefit him.
Coleman can appeal all he wants, the SCOTUS will not hear the case.
I can't think of a single reason why they should.
This isn't Gore vs Bush 2000.
Only the improperly rejected absentee ballots in question can be opened. All other ballots, whatever status, are officially not in the play
These newly opened ballots can be counted in the same way in each local the same way the official counted the previous ones. So there is no state wide standard, which bodes better for the assclown
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