Nov 26, 2008 10:55 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Frivolous Recount Challenges
(WCCO)
During recounts, like the one of the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota, it's not against the law to make a frivolous challenge. In fact, there is no law. It's an election rule that's sometimes broken. Or in this case, it often is. So how silly does it get?
There are no limits to how many automatic or frivolous challenges a campaign can make, and no penalty for doing so. It's easy for both sides to pile up trivial challenges, just to stay roughly even in the count.
"The ones that seem to be the most frustrating, I would say, are the ones where there is a challenge on the basis of some kind of distinguishing mark," said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.
IN FACT...
Local election officials say many of those challenges defy common sense. Franken's campaign challenged one ballot because of a smudge on the bottom of the ballot. Coleman's camp said on another ballot the voter may have intended to vote for him, even though Franken's name is completely filled in.
Another one may look like it's clearly for Coleman, but Franken's challenging because of a black squiggle streak on the other side of the ballot, which he says just might be a signature.
But that's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
Not only are Franken and Coleman challenging each other's votes, they're also trying to count votes that were never counted in the first place -- on Election Night.
It's TRUE.
Both campaigns want a bunch of ballots back in the mix, even though there are votes for both candidates.
One ballot has both Coleman and Franken marked, another one has Franken and another senate candidate marked, and yet another has marks for both Franken and Dean Barkley.
There's MORE.
The campaigns are challenging ballots if they are not filled out correctly -- either checked, circled or X'd.
Here's the REALITY.
At the rate they're going, there could be many thousands of challenged ballots adding more time, more taxpayer money and much more frustration to the Senate recount.
That's Reality Check.
To check the resources for this Reality Check, click on the links below.
2008 Minnesota Statutes: Rules For Recounts
2008 Minnesota Recount Guide
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