SECRETARY OF STATE MARK RITCHIE CONVENES HISTORIC STATE CANVASSING BOARD
-Recounts triggered in U.S. Senate, state senate, and two state house races beginning Nov. 19
SAINT PAUL, Minn.-Nov. 18, 2008―Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today convened a historic state canvassing board that authorized automatic recounts in state house seats 12B and 16A, state senate seat 16, as well as the U.S. Senate. Minnesota law triggers automatic recounts when the vote margin between the top two candidates in federal, state, or judicial races is less than one-half of one percent in a general election. The board reviewed and adopted election results with the exception of those requiring automatic recounts. The board adopted a recount plan to be implemented Nov. 19-the start of the statewide U.S. Senate recount.
"Tomorrow, the race begins at zero and election officials from across the state will manually recount nearly 3 million ballots," Ritchie said. "Only when this recount is completed in its entirety will we know who is elected in these four races."
By Minnesota law, the state canvassing board includes two Minnesota Supreme Court Justices, two district court judges, and is chaired by the Secretary of State. Members serving in this canvass board are Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson and Justice G. Barry Anderson, Chief Judge Kathleen R. Gearin and Assistant Chief Judge Edward J. Cleary from the Second Judicial District.
"I thank the members of the state canvassing board for their service to Minnesota," Ritchie said. "Minnesota can be proud of those represented here today and know that each member is deeply committed to upholding Minnesota's tradition of free and fair elections."
The state canvassing board formally announced that the statewide recount of the U.S. Senate race will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 19 in multiple locations throughout the state. The board also agreed to reconvene next week to consider a proposal to review improperly rejected absentee ballots. The board has received written and oral testimony from representatives of the Coleman and Franken campaigns on this issue.
The office has set a goal of completing the recounting by Dec. 5 so the state canvassing board may begin the process of reviewing all challenged ballots on Dec. 16.
Information regarding all recounts and a complete listing of recount sites is available online at www.sos.state.mn.us.
