Why the numbers don't match (MN recount)

[struggle4progress]

Last update: December 5, 2008 - 9:35 PM

... The Star Tribune is reporting the results as it has throughout the recount. Each of Minnesota's 4,130 precincts is included. New recounted numbers are used for those precincts that have reported them -- now 4,129 precincts. For precincts that have not yet reported -- now just one Minneapolis precinct where ballots are missing -- the newspaper includes the tally for the precinct that was reported to the state Canvassing Board last month, before the recount began.

The Secretary of State's website, also in keeping with its practice throughout the recount, is reporting results only from the precincts that have filed their new numbers. It does not include the one Minneapolis precinct still outstanding ...

The Star Tribune shows Coleman with a lead of 192, while the Secretary of State gives Coleman a 687-vote lead. The difference is 495 -- Franken's net votes from the precinct in question.

The Franken campaign says that its tally shows Franken ahead by four votes ... The campaign projects results from more than 6,000 ballots that have been challenged by the two campaigns. Those ballots do not figure in either the newspaper's or the Secretary's count. The Franken campaign ... assumes that the official's ruling will be upheld in every case when the state Canvassing Board resolves the challenges.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/35638064.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7PaP3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU

[Historic NY]

1. I'm glad I am not the only one confused how hard is it for the SOS to update his website.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I am confused as to who is leading..

[hlthe2b]

4. I think that is impossible to say until the missing ballots

are either found or a decision made to include the original count from those ballots in Minneapolis. Franken makes that assumption and in addition, chooses a conservative interpretation of what will happen on the 6000 challenged ballots--essentially that the original opinion of the reviewing judges will be upheld and he increases both his own and COleman's counts by those numbers. After doing, that gives Franken a 4 point lead according to his campaign.... While that could be wiped out if the missing ballot issue is not resolved, or there are major changes based on the challenged ballots, or (the final question mark) the absentee ballots that were excluded in error are allowed to be reexamined and counted.... One would think these scenarios would all be resolved in a way that would likely favor Franken, however.

[hlthe2b]

3. I think you missed the point... The SOS website is continuously

updated... You might want to read the article in full on the website... It really does do a good job of explaining the differences between the SOS, newspaper, and Franken campaigns methods... and why you would expect them to differ based on what information they are taking into account at this stage of the game and conversely, what data they are knowingly excluding until a later date.