Features Dartmouth College Professors' Study of The Senate Race and Al Franken, 11/24/08

Franken hopes turn on absentee issue - Daniel Libit - Politico.com http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15904.
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Franken hopes turn on absentee issue

By DANIEL LIBIT | 11/24/08 4:40 AM EST Text Size:
One of the closest elections in U.S. Senate history is hurtling

towards a critical juncture in its ongoing recount this week, as
the campaign of Democratic challenger Al Franken opens a new
legal front in its battle to break a virtual tie with Republican Sen.
Norm Coleman.
On Wednesday, the Minnesota State Canvassing Board will

hear arguments from Franken’s camp for why previously rejected
absentee ballots should now be counted.
Coleman ended the initial count with an advantage of just 215

Election judges Lucy Karml and Diana Kittelson votes out of nearly 3 million cast, and he has held a slim lead
count ballots by hand over the watchful eyes of thus far in the recount.
Geri Katz, a representative of Al Franken as well
as other election officials Friday Nov. 21, 2008 at MULTIMEDIA
a recount site Minneapolis which will decide the “We’re 70 percent through [the recount] now,” Coleman
election results between incumbent Republican Communications Director Mark Drake told Politico Sunday, “and
Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. a lot of the ballots that are looked at are in areas where
Photo: AP
Franken’s done well. We’re surprised he didn’t do better in terms
Sponsored Links of picking up more votes.” VIDEO: Politico VIDEO: Pundits VIDEO: Kotecki
1 Flat Stomach Rule: Obey Playback react
I cut out 2 lbs of body fat per week by following this Robert Hentges, a veteran Minnesota election law attorney not
1 old rule
involved in this year’s recount, cautions that results rarely
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change in recounts of optical scan ballots, as are used in almost POLITICO BLOGS
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While the conventional wisdom is that these recounted ballots Shenanigans on Gossip
should break the same way as the broader election results, Governor Val Kilmer?
Republicans fret that sloppy Democratic voters might mean Franken votes emerging as the recount continues.
The Scorecard on Campaigns
“Democrats are [thought to be] more creative, free-spirited, so the idea is they’re more likely to make a mistake that the
Brownback officially retires.
optical scan won’t pick up,” explains Hentges. “But when they recount the hard copy, those votes will be counted for
Franken. If you talk to Republicans, they say it will be Franken’s advantage, because Democrats are stupid and will
The Crypt on Congress
screw up ballots more often.”
Republican denounces Bush on auto
bailout.
Still, observers both in and out of the campaigns expect the drama won't come to a head just yet, and perhaps not until
Christmas.
Michael Calderone on Media
“This thing could just drag on,” says Brian Rice, a Minnesota attorney who has represented Democrats in state recount R.I.P., Deep Throat.
contests.
James Kotecki on whatever
Gumming up the process is the mounting of nearly 2,000 ballot challenges from both sides as of Sunday. Does this guy ever stop giving press
conferences?
“Unless somebody wanted to go in independently and start sorting them out, it’s going to be pretty murky,” says Rice.
“There are still half a dozen counties who will be recounting until after Thanksgiving. Everything can happen. We could Mike’s Playbook
not have a senator for a while.”
The president-elect speaks at noon and it's a
A Nov. 15 study of the Senate race by three Dartmouth College professors, predicted that the recount would favor tough economy when a first daughter flies
coach.
Franken. But as of Saturday night, Coleman still led by 180 votes.
“Overall, we feel good about where we are, good about way recount is being conducted,” Drake said, adding that most
of the counties that have yet been reviewed favored Coleman in the election.
1 of 7 12/19/2008 10:39 AM
Franken hopes turn on absentee issue - Daniel Libit - Politico.com http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15904.html
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Franken supporters can take refuge in an analysis of available returns conducted over the weekend by
FiveThirtyEight.com's Nate Silver, who determined that the Democrat would end up 27 votes ahead when the recount
concludes on Dec. 16.
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POST Replies: 480
drbillybob Reply #1
Party: Republican Date: Nov. 24, 2008 - 5:18 AM EST
“Democrats are [thought to be] more creative, free-spirited, so the idea is they’re more likely to make
a mistake that the optical scan won’t pick up,” explains Hentges. - The Politico
Well that's certainly one take ... the other being that the average Democrat is far dumber. LOL
Reply Quote Report Abuse
SparkyDash Reply #2
Party: NA Date: Nov. 24, 2008 - 5:42 AM EST
Mr. Libit, this is an inappropriatley written article, and I believe you understand why. This is beneath
even Politico standards.
SeriousLaff Reply #3
2 of 7 12/19/2008 10:39 AM
A system needs to be put in place that even a Democrat voter is able to use, but a Democrat vote
counter cannot abuse. Two machines. One would be a touch screen that fills out the ballot. It tells you
if you failed to vote in any race (none of the above would be an option) and then prints up the ballot
that could be checked for accuracy. If not correct, the ballot is disposed IN THAT MACHINE for
double checking the totals later. A new ballot would then be offered and the process starts again.
Once the ballot is printed it would be fed into a scanner that counts the votes and gives the voter a 1. Bush announces $17.4 billion auto bailout
receipt. No "voter intent" because the previous machine printed the ballot ad the voter agreed to its
accuracy. This would solve alot of the problems. Also getting rid of same day registration, having
2. Bush announces auto bailout
voters show a photo id, and making "early voting" a shorter (but reasonable) time period would
eliminate much of the potential fraud. There is no reason our election process should result in stolen
3. Obey: U.S. falling into 'massive, massive hole'
elections.
Reply Quote Report Abuse 4. Republican denounces Bush on auto bailout
Dick Day Reply #4 5. Labor ties drive Solis pick

Party: Democrat Date: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:19 AM EST
Even if Franken were to pull this out by 27 votes, which is a conclusion not solid in my mind, there is Sponsored Links
enough money on both sides to seek judicial relief. Again, this recount could go on and on and on. I still
maintain that Minnesota has the best model for voting in the country but no system is going to be 1 Flat Stomach Rule: Obey
flawless. A 200 vote margin in 2.9 million vote election is so small that, in the end, one side is not I cut out 2 lbs of body fat per week by following this 1
going to be satisfied. A run off election model does not totally solve this problem. What if the second old rule
and third candidates were within a couple hundred votes?
End Spinal Stenosis Now!
Dick Day
Minimally Invasive Treatment For Spinal Stenosis-Get
Reply Quote Report Abuse Your Life Back!
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3primecubed Reply #5
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Party: Liberal Date: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:20 AM EST
We reviewed the top wrinkle creams. You'll be
shocked at what we found!
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Salmon P Chase Reply #6

Getting a filibuster proof Senate notwithstanding, I'm no big fan of Franken. I sincerely wish it was
someone else. Really don't want the party being associated with this knucklehead.
jackolantyrn356 Reply #7
Democrats never mark ballots that badly. THIS IS FRAUD>

jeffmojo Reply #8
Party: Independent Date: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:43 AM EST
NEWS FLASH: MANY DEMOS CAN'T READ OR WRITE OR FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. You call this
NEWS?
Israelis 6 | enemies 0......is Huff Po a hangout for neo-nazis?

Psyche Reply #9
3 of 7 12/19/2008 10:39 AM
This may not be just a case of "Sloppy Dems." but an awakening that many voters just can't see the
little oval to color it in..I observed some mis-marked ballots where the oval was not filled in, but an oval
mark was placed somewhere near the printed space for it, suggesting a vision problem. Having taught
many years, I can say, with authority, that "Dumb" is not an appropriate description of a "Challenged"
voter and Party has nothing to do with it. We have a nation of functional illiterates due to poor
identification and remediation, however, they become good citizens, good parents and good role
models, lets remember that the mechanic who repairs our car may be illiterate, but good at his chosen
career.
Psycheboat
ddlbb Reply #10

"Democrats are [thought to be] more creative, free-spirited, so the idea is they?re more likely to make
a mistake that the optical scan won?t pick up,? nothing like admitting that your constituents are idiots.
glad to know that there are republicans out there than can read, follow directions, and fill in an oval
with a pencil. how difficult it must be to devise a method of voting for the stupidest among us a.k.a.
franken voters. until then, i guess we'll have to rely on carnac-like elections board members trying to
guess the dumb voters' intentions.
jeffmojo Reply #11

THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU TEACH THESE PEOPLE TO READ, WRITE, AND THINK RATIONALLY,
AND LOGICALLY THEY'LL NEVER VOTE FOR A LIBERAL. LIKE 'WILL' SAID, "There's the rub."
Israelis 6 | enemies 0..........do Huff Po posters hate JEWS?

rjp21 Reply #12

Does this mean the Minnesota GOP have the ammo to do a Geico spoof? - "It's so easy, even a
Democrat can do it." (Remember, stupid people in Florida wanted Al Gore to be president.)
DAAM Reply #13

Party: Libertarian Date: Nov. 24, 2008 - 8:00 AM EST
Salmon P Chase: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:48 AM EST
Good morning SPC. Not often we agree on issues but your comments about 3primedcubed are right
on the mark. This freak is bizzare and the only conclusion I can come up with is that the showboat troll
is on some kind of meds. Good for you - good post.
"A government who robs Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul" George Bernard
Shaw
drbillybob Reply #14

4 of 7 12/19/2008 10:39 AM
Psyche: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:45 AM EST
And teachers' unions ...
drbillybob Reply #15

It's time to initiate a "Poll Test" on basic civics and US govt. We have to take written tests to drive ...
why not to vote?
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and
never will be."
- Thomas Jefferson
DAAM Reply #16

drbillybob: Nov. 24, 2008 - 8:01 AM EST
Mornin Dr! Don't forget exorbitantly overpaid, over-valued, non-teaching administrators who retire at
55 with full pension and medical benefits for life.
Shaw
jeffmojo Reply #17

I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE 'SLOPPY democrats' ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS?
Israelis 6 | enemies 0.............neo-nazi hezbollah rally at Huff Po!

NYker Reply #18

5 of 7 12/19/2008 10:39 AM
Tales from Minnesota-My favorite is the voter who decided to vote twice to make sure his absentee
vote was counted. How many ways can voting go wrong? By PATRICIA LOPEZ and BOB VON
STERNBERG, Star Tribune s t aff w r iters November 20, 2008 If the hand recount of ballots to
determine a winner in the U.S. Senate race has Minnesotans edgy, pity poor Robert Marvin. The
Roseville man was too ill to risk a long wait in line on Election Day, so he dutifully filled out an
absentee ballot, only to discover Thursday that his vote never got counted. Now his wife, Ruby Marvin,
is hopping mad. "Oh for cripes' sake," she said when a Star Tribune reporter told her that election
officials said her husband's ballot had been rejected because he wasn't properly registered. "We've
lived here for five years and voted in every election," she said. "We've never had any problems before.
This is crazy. Honest to Pete, there's no wonder they're having problems counting the ballots." Robert
Marvin's absentee ballot is just one of about 800 that were rejected in Ramsey County, where a court
order Wednesday forced county officials to disclose the names and addresses of those whose votes
were rejected. With the margin separating Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL challenger Al
Franken remaining razor-thin, rejected absentees like Marvin may find themselves the new pivot point
in an election where the rivals have gone after one another with everything they could muster. Now,
their sights may be trained on those hapless individuals who by sheer chance find that the simple act
of voting has put them under a magnifying glass. The Franken campaign started contacting voters on
the Ramsey rejected absentee list the day it became public, asking them whether they would be willing
to sign affidavits attesting that they believe their vote should be counted. The campaigns are given only
the voter's name, address and the reason the ballot was rejected. No valid reason? Laurel Meyer, 56,
a retired federal employee from St. Paul, lost her vote because an election judge ruled that she hadn't
given a valid reason for voting absentee. Meyer didn't know it had happened until she was called by
the Franken campaign Wednesday night. "They didn't say exactly why I'd been rejected, but asked if
I'd be willing to sign an affidavit explaining what happened," she said Thursday. "Yeah, I would,
because I want my vote to count." Meyer said she voted early because she was afraid her difficulty
walking could prove cumbersome on Election Day. "I can't imagine what went wrong," she said. "I'd
changed addresses, so I filled out the information with my new address. I thought I was doing
everything correctly, so it's very frustrating to hear it was rejected." From his spot at Recount Central,
a boxy office building outside downtown St. Paul, Ramsey County Elections Manager Joe Mansky said
he worries about voters being asked the details of how they filled out their ballots. "I wouldn't want
Ben Golnik contacting me, or anyone else" he said, smiling as Golnik, a Republican operative and
recount monitor, walked by on his way to observe ballot counts. The absentee ballots rejected in
Ramsey County were bounced for an array of reasons, but a handful of categories dominate. By far
the largest number, nearly a quarter, were rejected because there was no evidence the voter had
registered. Second-ranked, accounting for more than one in eight, were ballots that lacked a voter's
signature on the envelope. Roughly one-tenth were placed in the reject pile because voters didn't
provide a qualified witness at the time of voting, as required by law. A slightly smaller number were
rejected because voters filled out materials incompletely -- about the same proportion that weren't
accepted because they were provided with the wrong materials by local election officials. System
worked, sometimes In some cases, nothing went wrong. Coleman supporter Jerald McElmury, of
North St. Paul, wasn't surprised to be rejected. He didn't take any chances with his vote. He cast it --
twice. "I voted early," McElmury said, of his absentee ballot that was later rejected, "but drove my
wife to the polls and decided I'd vote again, to make sure it was counted. I figured it would get flagged
that I voted twice, so it worked exactly the way it was supposed to, for me." Only a handful were
rejected because voters subsequently voted in person on Election Day. A few ballots were invalidated
because the voters didn't provide valid proof of their legal residence, lacked a valid reason for needing
to vote absentee or returned their ballots to their local election office too late to be legally counted. In
four cases countywide, the ballots were rejected because the county's records showed the voter had
died. Under state law, if a person who casts an absentee ballot dies before the election, the vote is
not to be counted. In Ramsey County, among rejected voters whose first names were identifiably male
or female, 60 percent were women, compared with 53 percent of all voters statewide. Female voters
favored Franken, according to exit polls. On the other hand, 79 percent of rejected Ramsey voters
hailed from suburbs, which tend to be stronger for Republicans. Tales of votes gone awry are not
limited to Ramsey. They'll play out across the state as counties begin to release the rolls of their
rejectees. But for the scrutiny over the tightest Senate race in the country, most would have remained
blissfully ignorant that their vote was cast aside. In Clara City, Lorraine De Grote, 64, learned her vote
was rejected. "What do you mean my vote didn't count?" a startled De Grote said when contacted by
a reporter. "We always vote." De Grote said she and her husband had voted absentee for years in
Colorado and decided to do the same when they moved here. De Grote's ballot was rejected because
it lacked a signature on the envelope. Her husband's, apparently, was accepted, because his name did
not turn up as one of the 15 voters whose absentee ballots were rejected in Chippewa County. "That
doesn't make sense," De Grote said. "We sat down together and filled them out and did it the same
way." De Grote, who voted for Coleman, said that now she's wondering, "If my vote didn't get
counted, how many others didn't get counted?" plopez@startribune.com ? 651-222-1288
vonste@startribune.com ? 612-673-7184 ? 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
DAAM Reply #19

drbillybob: Nov. 24, 2008 - 8:05 AM EST
...or to become responsible parents?
Shaw
6 of 7 12/19/2008 10:39 AM
ntconserv Reply #20

I agree, why Franken? I will love a filibuster proof majority, but why couldn't the dems run a serious
candidate. If that was the case, it would have been a run away.
Nyconserv
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Franken hopes turn on absentee issue - Daniel Libit - Politico.com http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15904.

Navigate: Politico | Congress | Franken hopes turn on absentee issue

Franken hopes turn on absentee issue

One of the closest elections in U.S. Senate history is hurtling

On Wednesday, the Minnesota State Canvassing Board will

Coleman ended the initial count with an advantage of just 215

Search Browse Play Lists

1 | 2 | Next Page >>

Read more stories in Congress.

Barack Obama's IQ = 138

1 Flat Stomach Rule: Obey

End Spinal Stenosis Now!

Do Wrinkle Creams Work?

Buy a link here

JOIN THE CONVERSATION (read all 480 comments)

Reply Quote Report Abuse

Dick Day Reply #4 5. Labor ties drive Solis pick

A beautiful pink sunrise.

All is right and ready for

Salmon P Chase Reply #6

Reply Quote Report Abuse

Democrats never mark ballots that badly. THIS IS FRAUD>

Israelis 6 | enemies 0......is Huff Po a hangout for neo-nazis?

ddlbb Reply #10

jeffmojo Reply #11

Israelis 6 | enemies 0..........do Huff Po posters hate JEWS?

rjp21 Reply #12

DAAM Reply #13

Salmon P Chase: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:48 AM EST

drbillybob Reply #14

Psyche: Nov. 24, 2008 - 7:45 AM EST

And teachers' unions ...

Reply Quote Report Abuse

drbillybob Reply #15

Reply Quote Report Abuse

DAAM Reply #16

drbillybob: Nov. 24, 2008 - 8:01 AM EST

jeffmojo Reply #17

I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE 'SLOPPY democrats' ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS?

Israelis 6 | enemies 0.............neo-nazi hezbollah rally at Huff Po!

NYker Reply #18

Reply Quote Report Abuse

DAAM Reply #19

drbillybob: Nov. 24, 2008 - 8:05 AM EST

...or to become responsible parents?

Reply Quote Report Abuse

ntconserv Reply #20

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