MNDaily: "City acknowledges missing ballots"

[SomeGuyInEagan]

"Well into the Senate race recount and a day after Senate hopeful Al Franken’s camp alleged 133 ballots were missing from a Dinkytown precinct, the city of Minneapolis and the secretary of state’s office confirmed it.

At the Ward 3, Precinct 1 site — which covers most of Dinkytown — 2,029 people voted but only 1,896 ballots were found in the recount.

One of five sealed envelopes containing ballots is nowhere to be found, Minneapolis Elections Director Cindy Reichert said at a City Hall news conference Thursday. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak stood by."

entire story at:
http://www.mndaily.com/2008/12/03/city-acknowledges-missing-ballots

[peacetalksforall]

1. But, Normie says they are 'imaginary' ballots.

[dodger501]

2. I can kinda, sorta see his point

Someone says they have a 2, 3, 4, 5 of 5 and therefore assume a 1 of 5 is missing.
A fair assumption, but if I were Coleman, I'd do the same thing, I guess.

[peacetalksforall]

3. But but but - the total was one number, the ballots to be recounted were a lesser number - (I read

the numbers, but don't remember them). Therefore, the difference should be the missing ballots.

Not imaginary if the math works. It's just a different math from numbering envelopes. A better math.

[Bjorn Against]

4. If Coleman is correct that means 133 people showed up to the polls but did not cast a ballot...

Not only would 133 people out of the 2,000 that showed up to vote in that precinct not have cast a ballot however, but the precinct would have had to have counted 133 ballots twice on election day. Coleman knows that these are real ballots that have gone missing, he just doesn't want the votes to be counted.

[dflprincess]

5. It sounds like Norman is getting math lessons from Karl Rove

Ballots from a Dinkytown precinct - what could Normis be afraid of? :rofl:

[Mnpaul]

6. but Coleman isn't correct

That’s a total of 2,029 voters casting legal ballots and the machine tape said 2,028, which is a fairly normal discrepancy. Initial results indicated 2026 of those voted in the Presidential race and 1965 of those voted in the U.S. Senate race. In the recount today, there were only 1,896 total ballots, which is incorrect.
http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/where-are-the-missing-ballots-from-minneapolis-3-1/

2029 voters cast ballots, machine said 2028. 1896 there on recount day. Something smells here.

Carey makes the matter even more ridiculous by claiming Franken wants to invade the church:

Franken Campaign Calls For Government Invasion Of A Church!
In press release, Franken campaign wants church to be treated as a crime scene

St. Paul- Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Ron Carey today called the Franken campaign’s decision to call for a forensics investigation of a Minneapolis Church “both offensive and completely out-of-control” and asked for the campaign to stop its harassment of Minneapolis election officials and Church officials.

“Today’s demand from the Franken Campaign that government authorities invade the University Lutheran Church Of Hope, essentially cordoning it off and conducting a forensics search, is both offensive and completely out-of-control. At what point does the Franken campaign simply conduct itself in this recount with some semblance of dignity? Demanding that the government invade a place of worship—and require taxpayers to foot the bill for that invasion—is bizarre and repulsive. In addition to a loud slap in the face of local election officials, the Franken campaign’s demand for information on the administrator of the church is simply tantamount to government-sponsored persecution. The Franken campaign has routinely questioned the integrity of local Minnesota election officials who are doing their civic duty and helping out with the recount efforts, and today’s demands from their campaign should be rejected by all Minnesotans who value the way in which we conduct ourselves and elections in this state.”
http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/franken-campaign-calls-for-government-invasion-of-a-church/

[Bjorn Against]

7. Believe me I know Coleman is not correct...

That was the point I was trying to make in fact, if you read my post again you will see I was making the exact same argument you were it was just worded a bit differently. That is an interesting press release you posted though, the Republicans seem quite scared about the possibility of these votes being counted.

[dragonlady]

8. The Republicans are being ridiculous

The church was being used as a public space on election day and remains so for purposes of the election until the winner is certified. There is no "persecution" on the basis of religious beliefs here, merely the attempt to find out who actually won on election day. If the shoe were on the other foot, they'd be making this argument on Coleman's behalf.