Coleman Wins by 215 Votes; Mandatory Recount to Begin

Franken is trying to hold off a recount until a few more (say, 216?) "previously uncounted" ballots appear:

The Franken campaign filed a brief Monday asking the Canvassing Board to consider including improperly rejected absentee ballots in today's official tally. Granting that request would make it practically impossible to proceed to the recount on Wednesday.

However, the state attorney general's office later issued a three-page opinion requested by Ritchie that said the board's job today is purely administrative, not to determine the eligibility of a voter or whether absentee ballots were properly accepted.

Wrote Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Raschke Jr.: "Courts that have reviewed this issue have opined that rejected absentee or provisional ballots are not cast in an election." Improperly rejected absentee ballots can be challenged in court, he wrote.

In two weeks he managed to whittle down Coleman's 725 vote lead. In the meantime, he's decided to simply act like he's won. Today he's in Washington, D.C. meeting with Senate Democrats.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 09:21 AM

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