Dec 3, 2008 6:21 pm US/Central
Tensions Flare At Senate Recount In Scott County
(WCCO)
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The state canvassing board will sort through challenged ballots one-by-one starting on Dec. 16, hoping to decide what the voter's intent was in each case.
CBS
Wednesday, the drama continued as three more Minnesota counties started hand counting their votes in the race for U.S. Senate. Volunteers, lawyers and judges started to look over thousands of ballots in Wright, Winona, and Scott Counties.
Scott is one of the biggest counties still to be recounted. In an old Shakopee funeral home, the recount got underway.
"That mark is superfluous. It's not a character, it's a swirl," said Andy Lokken from the Secretary of States office as he tried to guide the partisan poll watchers into moving on.
It wasn't easy after a Franken worker accused Coleman workers of being rude.
"Can you just not talk about Franken people from now on please, because you are being very rude to other people," said the Franken worker.
The tension was over challenged ballots with a Coleman worker coming up with a proposal.
"I'd be willing to a compromise in withdrawing our challenge if you withdraw your challenge," said the Coleman worker.
The Franken camp held firm.
"We don't do compromises. You just challenge the ballots you feel necessary, we'll challenge the ballots [that we feel necessary] and we'll take it to them," responded the Franken worker.
Despite the tense moments, the Secretary of State Representative insisted the Scott County recount was going well.
"That happens, but in the end it's usually amicably resolved," he said.
That did appear to be the case, and one veteran election judge said tension is just part of the process.
"The way Scott County handles things the way I've known, I don't see how there can be any fraud," said election judge Roberta Ludowese.
The tension was over those disputed ballots, and that is the key.
Wednesday, the Franken campaign said they have changed their minds on 633 ballots and will no longer challenge them, but there are still more than 5,000 ballots that both campaigns are challenging.
The state canvassing board will sort through those ballots one-by-one starting on Dec. 16, hoping to decide what the voter's intent was in each case.
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