Franken Wins Absentee Ballot Lawsuit

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota judge has granted a request by Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken for the release of information on voters whose absentee ballots were rejected.

Ramsey County Judge Dale Lindman directed the county to produce the data by the close of business Wednesday. It complied.

Franken wanted the rosters of disqualified absentee voters in all 87 counties to determine if they were properly rejected in the counting of ballots for his close race with incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman.

Lindman's ruling applies only to Ramsey County, the state's second-largest county and the home of the state capital, but it represents a partial victory for Franken.

A key board hasn't decided whether to allow wrongly rejected absentee ballots into the statewide recount.

Comments

[Roll451]

09:47 AM on 11/21/2008

My understanding is that Franken wants the names of the voters so that they can be contacted to determine their intent. I hope Franken wins, but contacting voters after the election is over is opening Pandora's box as far as election law is concerned.

[bestbuddy]

11:33 AM on 11/20/2008

remember Paul Wellstone..!!

[YesWeDid]

09:44 AM on 11/20/2008

Yeah whitegoldwielder, and 'Go-Fer' from the Love Boat was republican. So what was your point?

[myoungholt]

09:09 AM on 11/20/2008

A key board hasn't decided whether to allow wrongly rejected ballots.......??????? I can't imagine why WRONGLY REJECTED doesn't mean ALLOW THEM TO BE COUNTED. Some things that people do are just mind boggling.

[DrDemon]

02:04 AM on 11/20/2008

Burn Coleman Burn !

[Carolab]

10:59 PM on 11/19/2008

Trust me, the DLCers are not going to let Franken lose. He helped them hatch the 2004 plan to upset Dean and instead install Kerry.

[HARLEYSRULE]

10:33 PM on 11/19/2008

There is a very good reason Air America went off the air.

[Carolab]

11:07 PM on 11/19/2008

It didn't. But I used to listen to it alot more when Randi Rhodes was on the air. I'm glad Thom Hartmann is still on there.

[Wildofski]

01:38 AM on 11/20/2008

Don't forget Rachel Maddow & new hire Ron Reagan Jr.

[Danny]

03:09 AM on 11/20/2008

How obtuse. Air America is still alive and VERY WELL.

[LWkcma]

09:50 PM on 11/19/2008

Love the photo

[DrDemon]

02:00 AM on 11/20/2008

Yes...simply gorgeous! Grrr

[missnina]

09:49 PM on 11/19/2008

I am from Florida and still quite pissy over the 2000 election. I saw up close the devious tactics used to steal that election. I am confident if we all remain diligent, justice will prevail. Stay strong Al! We are behind you!!! Your Good Enough, Your Smart Enough, and Doggone It, Decent People Like You!

[dphilip]

09:54 AM on 11/20/2008

I agree. Al Gore really embarrassed himself by conceding the election and then trying to steal it. . Thank God the Supreme Court stoppped the Banana Republic cooalition that the democrats had going down there...

[AtticusinPa]

10:26 AM on 11/20/2008

Yeah Lets not forget the Republican staff riot banging on doors and shouting to stop counting the vote. Nice, huh, And most work for key House and Senate staffs in Washington. I have the photo with names. P.S. The lawyers in the riot should be disbarred.

[radical1]

01:42 PM on 11/20/2008

"Banana Republic, my eye"! What are the naive FOX viewers doing on this honest media outlet? Not for peaceful, educational, eye opener conversation for sure. And who stole the election in 00? Get informed & get off FOX.

[funkalicious]

09:46 PM on 11/19/2008

Okay people you know the Drill
The only way AL Franken can close the deal is for you to

Make a Secure Online Donation to the
Al Franken for Senate Recount Fund

Note: Individuals can contribute up to $2300 for the recount effort,
previous contributions to Al Franken for Senate do not count towards that limit.
To contribute more click here.

http://www.alfranken.com/

MAKE it end now.... be a pal and give to AL.

[EosBlue]

10:01 PM on 11/19/2008

WHY would I want to do that? I saw enough of him on late night TV.

My question about this law suit is "What the hell happened to the secret ballot? Why would the election board even know who's ballot is who's. In my state, our mail-in ballot is place inside an envelope with no id attached to it period.

This envelope is then placed into another envelope that does have my name, etc on the outside. My understanding is that when the envelope is received, my name and signature is checked, then the envelope is opened and the "blank" envelope is placed in another box to be counted later. Of course, this procedure is suppose to protect my secret ballot.

So, how the hell can MN know what votes are rejected for anything except the name and signature? Kind of scares me, but I guess I'll get the butter out because I think the Demo-goons are getting ready to do some shoving and I hate pain.

[RadicalRepublican]

12:42 PM on 11/20/2008

You are correct sir. At least it will shed light on dishonorable poll workers and hopefully prevent them from unduly affecting future elections.

[LeftLeaner]

09:31 PM on 11/19/2008

Why piecemeal counting - that's exactly what happened in Florida?

[LeftLeaner]

09:39 PM on 11/19/2008

It should read: Al Franken wins "partial" Absentee ballot lawsuit. He needs to go for all of them. This is ridiculous.

[Dubois651]

08:06 PM on 11/19/2008

I'll be happy to see Norm Coleman escorted out of Minnesota politics on his way to share a jail cell with the other neo-cons. Better yet, why not send them to Guantanamo Bay?

[NHGranite]

07:59 PM on 11/19/2008

How Al Franken and George Bush are alike

Franken writes books. Bush claims to read books.
Franken has fact checkers check his facts. Bush makes up facts.
Franken told jokes. Bush is a joke.
Franken wrote about big fat liars. Bush surrounds himself with big fat liars.
Franken had a funny job at SNL. Bush is President.

[UnknownSoldier]

08:29 PM on 11/19/2008

I'm trying to remember when Al Franken was funny................. still thinking.............umm sorry can't come up with anything funny from Al Franken.

He was in Trading Places very briefly, so I guess that counts as funny since it was a great film

[Liberal2]

09:11 PM on 11/19/2008

Trying to think of the last time you reichwingers were honorable and patriotic.......ummm sorry, can't come up with one, not even you cuz Benedict Arnold was an "American soldier" once too.

But the video showing Bush looking for WMD under his desk was kinda' funny. Especially when Americans and Iraqis were dying in way off Iraq. It emphasized the reason for a 1 to 3 trillion dollar war.

[Cybersquirt]

10:06 PM on 11/19/2008

I never really knew l Franken as a comedian. I knew him as a political commentator. I admire people who can "wear more than one hat" as it were, as opposed to spitting the same venom...

[openhand]

07:39 PM on 11/19/2008

Senator, can I call you Al...

[llisa]

07:33 PM on 11/19/2008

"A key board hasn't decided whether to allow wrongly rejected absentee ballots into the statewide recount."

??????

If WRONGLY rejected absentee ballots are not allowed into the statewide recount, wouldn't that just encourage more ballots to be wrongly rejected in the future? Guess we could just throw away all absentee ballots as they are received since both sides could wrongly reject any number they choose to without worrying about them ever being counted.

[LeftLeaner]

09:33 PM on 11/19/2008

Exactly, how can they justify that decision?