Franken Recount: Most Senate undervotes in ballots from Obama turf [View All]

[Strelnikov_]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/34116044.html

An Associated Press analysis of the nearly 25,000-vote difference in presidential and Senate race tallies shows that most ballots lacking a recorded Minnesota Senate vote were cast in counties won by Democrat Barack Obama.

The finding could have implications for Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken, who are headed for a recount separated by the thinnest of margins — a couple hundred votes, or about 0.01 percent.

Though some voters may have intentionally bypassed the race, others may have mismarked their ballot or optical scanning machines may have misread them. A recount due to begin Nov. 19 will use manual inspection to detect such ballots.

Three counties — Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis — account for 10,540 votes in the dropoff between the two races. Each saw Obama win with 63 percent or more.

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And numbnut Norm sees the way things are going, and is starting to throw wrenches in the recount gears.

http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/?p=1218

Meanwhile, Reporter Kevin Duchschere reports that Coleman’s campaign today is asking the Secretary of State’s office and Minnesota’s county auditors for copies of the results of election night machine tapes for all precincts and all election night summaries or tally sheets for all precincts that counted ballots by hand.

In a statement, Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan said it was “troubling” to see “huge chunks of votes appearing and disappearing,” and that they are shifting to DFL candidate Al Franken’s favor.

“As many of these unexplained and improbable vote swings are taking place on the Iron Range, we’re asking that local and state election officials provide us with the necessary data to reassure the public that the canvassing process has not been tainted,” Sheehan said.

A letter sent to local and state officials from attorney Terry Trimble is seeking the documents under Minnesota’s Data Practices Act. Because the material is related to the recount, Trimble writes that it be provided immediately.