Emmer wants recount rules changed
Friday, November 19, 2010 at 2:00 pm
- 8 Comments
The Republican Party of Minnesota and Tom Emmer’s gubernatorial campaign want changes made to the recount rules ahead of the State Canvassing Board meeting on Tuesday. Specifically, Emmer wants Rule 8 changed to make inspection of challenged ballots the job of the five-member canvassing board and not the 87 county auditors. The move, which could cost more time in the recount process, comes after the Emmer campaign filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court to look for “phantom votes” in all 87 counties. Dayton called Emmer’s moves “desperate” in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio on Thursday.
“Seems to me Republicans are basically questioning the basic integrity of the election process in Minnesota,” said Dayton, who added that the system had a thorough check two years ago during the Franken-Coleman recount. “I think to just cast aspersions on this, I think basically that they are desperate, they are way behind.”
He added, “It’s not just throwing ‘Hail Marys.’ It’s throwing spitballs at the wall to see which ones will stick.”
Emmer’s newest volley in the pre-recount arena is to change the rule which says that Minnesota’s 87 county auditors will determine whether or not challenged ballots have merit or are frivolous. Emmer wants that task to be delegated to the 5-person canvassing board.
Emmer is also asking the rules to be amended to include a provision to look for “phantom votes,” the same issue the Emmer team has taken to the Supreme Court.
“We are requesting that the State Canvassing Board be the only body to decide the merits of a ballot challenge during the recount in accordance with state law. Additionally, we are requesting that local recount officials be directed to reconcile the number of ballots with the number of signatures present on the election day roster (both pre-registered voters and same-day registrants), as required by Minnesota Statute,” GOP chair Tony Sutton said in a statement Thursday.
Here’s the letter from the Emmer team to Secretary of State Mark Ritchie:
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter8 Comments
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
Well… first off… FIRST!
secondly, charming debate, didn’t he say he wouldn’t use stall tactics?
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 3:09 pm
Of course the GOP wants that. That way Pawlenty can stay in office with a Republican-controlled House and Senate and finish off all the Republican legislative priorities while Emmer drags out the recount as long as possible to avoid seating a Democrat who will actually demand compromise from obstinate conservatives in order to avoid his veto.
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
So if there are problems with the Governors vote, wouldn’t there be problems with the new Republican state reps and senators. Let’s throw the whole election out and see how the GOP fares in a new make-up election.
If votes for Governor are wrong, what makes votes for Republicans correct?
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
This reminds me of the infamous Olympics basketball game when the Russians used questionable calls to replay the end of the game over and over until they won.
The current rules seem quite specific as to what constitutes a frivolous challenge. This request is an insult to the judgment and integrity of the Minnesotan citizens from whom the local poll officials come. If Emmer and the republicans have concerns about the rules, they should have mentioned them last summer when the legislature was debating changes to the election laws. Bringing them up now, during the canvassing process, is attempting to manipulate the system to their advantage.
Shifting the parsing of frivolous challenges to the state effectively eliminates the category of “frivolous” and defeats the purpose of having it.
It also makes fewer people to cast their aspersions on and undermine the authority of.
We do not need their corruption in Minnesota, let alone running the state.
Comment posted November 20, 2010 @ 8:33 am
This just proves Emmer is a big crybaby, he should just admit defeat and let minnesota get on with life.
Comment posted November 20, 2010 @ 5:03 pm
This is such a B.S. Argument.. Hey EMMER you Fat Ass!! You LOST!!! What the Minnesota Supreme Court NEEEEEDS to do is to STRIP Governor Tea Bags of ALL legislative powers as this recount goes on.. Otherwise our whole State will end up like the Trailer Park known as THE SIXTH DISTRICT!~! Lol…
Pingback posted November 29, 2010 @ 12:42 am
[...] it into the hands of the five-member canvassing board. Why? Well, for one thing, according to Andy Birkey of Minnesota Independent, it might make the recount process take longer. Emmer and the GOP are also calling for a search for [...]
Comment posted December 2, 2010 @ 11:27 am
IF, at the end of the recount, the situation has not changed dramatically (Let’s say 20% of the vote total DIFFERENCE for either Emmer or Dayton) Then it should be over.
IF Emmer’s total difference in gain is 2000 or more, there may be problems. IF Dayton gains 2000 or more, let it rest. IF 4000 or more votes change hands, prepare for year 9 of Pawlenty.
IF the “Changes” are insignificant (1000 or less gain) for Emmer, it’s time to give up the ghost.
Expect another 2 years of gridlock if the DFL takes the Governorship. Expect cuts in social programs if Emmer takes it. Either way, somebody is going to lose. Maybe we should have a run-off while there is still time.
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