Senate Recount Puts Minnesota's Election Reputation to the Test
From Ballotpedia
November 12, 2008
St. Paul Pioneer Press-ST. PAUL, MN-As the Minnesota Senate Recount between Norm Coleman and Al Franken begins, the reputation of Minnesota's election system as a national leader in clean elections and empowering voters is at stake[1].
Recount Puts a Different Light on Minnesota's Election System
As official counts show just 206 votes separating Republican Sen. Norm Coleman from Democratic challenger Al Franken, some doubt may be cast of Minnesota's election system.[1]
Even before the recount of the Senate votes starts, accusations of voting fraud are increasing. Coleman's campaign accused Franken of stuffing ballot boxes and mysterious Election Day maneuvering. Franken's campaign has been quieter, but it alleged this week that at least some absentee ballots that weren't counted should be[1] .
As the two candidates await the start of next week's recount when every one of the 2.9 million ballots cast in their race will be scrutinized, Minnesota's reputation for squeaky-clean elections has already taken a few hits[1] .
The dings may be part of political strategies, and ultimately, political experts said, Minnesota's reputation will bounce back because the state has a transparent, systematic process clearly set out in law from same day registration, to other policy initiatives found in other states.
"Basically, the fear right now on the part of the Coleman people is that something fishy is going on behind closed doors," said University of Minnesota professor Larry Jacobs, who runs the Center for Study of Politics and Governance and its Program for Excellence in Election Administration.
Once the recount starts next week, "it is all upfront," Jacobs said.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Pioneer Press: "Senate Recount puts elections reputation at stake," November 12, 2008
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