Voting Fraud Complaints Surface After MN US Senate Race

From Ballotpedia

November 8, 2008

KAAL-TV-ALBERT LEA, MN-A few days after a toughly contested Senate election in which the incumbent Norm Coleman defeated Al Franken, complaints of widespread voting fraud have been alledged on the part of interperters^[1].

As Franken Wants Recount, Mass Allegations of Voting Fraud Spread

Friday, a formal criminal complaint was filed with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office on allegations of election fraud and voter intimidation^[1].

Despite a request from Senate Candidate Al Franken to conduct a recount, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie wants to hold off on counting any ballots cast at the Brian Coyle Community Center in Minneapolis, as the complaint filed by a Somali leader alledges that campaign workers from both Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken’s campaigns tried to illegally influence voters^[1].

Omar Jamal, with the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, claims anywhere from six to ten people acting as interpreters inside the polling place inside the Brian Coyle Center swayed elderly voters and those who don't speak English^[1].

Jamal said they all urged voters to mark their ballots for Franken, even if they wanted to cast a vote for Coleman^[1].