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COLEMAN PRESS EVENT ABOUT 32 ABSENTEE BALLOTS “FOUND” IN ELECTION OFFICIAL’S CAR
By Michael B. Brodkorb | November 8, 2008
Fritz Knaak, counsel for U.S. Senator Norm Coleman’s campaign, had a press conference at 2:00 p.m. today to talk about hearing that was held earlier today about recently found absentee ballots in Hennepin County.
“The request from Coleman’s campaign said Minneapolis elections director Cynthia Reichert called its office at 7:45 p.m. Friday and reported that 32 ballots had been found and would be counted the next morning.
‘We were actually told they had been riding around in her car for several days, which raised all kinds of integrity questions,’ said Coleman’s attorney, Fritz Knaak.
Gearin denied the campaign’s request to stop the count for an investigation of the ballots’ history because the court does not have jurisdiction until the vote total is final and an official contest of the result has made, Knaak said.” Source: Associated Press, November 8, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
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“On Friday night the director of elections for the city of Minneapolis, Cynthia Reichhert, told the attorney for the Coleman campaign, Tony Trimble, that she was in possession of 32 absentee ballots that she intended to ‘open and count’ today, according to the request filed by the Coleman campaign.
The integrity of these ballot(s) is in serious doubt,’ the Coleman campaign’s request said.” Source: Pioneer Press, November 8, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
32 ballots “found” in her car? Nothing suspicious about “finding” 32 ballots in your car days after the election. Coleman has a great legal representation in Tony Trimble and Fritz Knaak and I’m confident with their legal strategy to ensure every vote cast was a legal ballot.
Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.
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39 Responses to “COLEMAN PRESS EVENT ABOUT 32 ABSENTEE BALLOTS “FOUND” IN ELECTION OFFICIAL’S CAR”
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November 8th, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Facts:
1) This election is virtually tied.
2) The legal and recount process will never determine who really won. (ie Florida)
3) Minnesotans will be put through a process of anxiety, major expense, tie up the courts, make lawyers a lot of money etc.
4) Everyone is totally sick of this race and the two candidates.
Proposal:
We settle this the old-fashioned way with honor…let’s have Al and Norm duel for the seat. Arm up and take 10 paces, turn and shoot. (rubber or paint balls only or maybe not.) If they both hit each other, neither goes and TPaw appoints Barkley. In the absence of guns, why not duel the modern way— a coin toss. We could have this whole thing over by Monday.
November 8th, 2008 at 5:00 PM
CNN reported on this race and the recount. Anyone see Jeffrey Toobin, legal and political analyst, comment? He said the campaigns of these two were really low-rent and said the gene pool in Minnesota is not what it once was with some of the great senators who have represented Minnesota in the past.
It was clear he did not know that both Norm and Al are New Yorkers! Minnesota has had to put up with these two clowns over Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. Our summer was trashed. Are we going to give up Thanksgiving, Hannukkah, and Christmas, too? They both should have the decency to settle this once and for all. Flip a coin.
November 8th, 2008 at 5:14 PM
If they agree to a duel, we could have it at the Target Center (no pun intended). Sell tickets. Maybe sell sponsorships—ie gun manufacturers. If the bullets were rubber, it might qualify for closed-circuit TV. A national audience ala WrestleMania. Ask Al and Norm to hype it and the proceeds could go to the Minnesota treasury to help with the short-fall. Paul Ridgeway could do the promo and put on the party. Corporate boxes with top-drawer food and booze. Jesse Ventura could do the play-by-play and/or referee. It has the potential to be the biggest gate ever in our state. Bigger and more exciting than the Republican Convention.
Action figures, t-shirts, hats, …….no limit to the possibilities. Al and Norm autographed memorabilia. Hire the marketers now!
November 8th, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Mark Rosen will emcee, I am sure. Because the proceeds are going to the state or charity, we will be able to get public-service announcements. How about a parade? Bigger than the Aquatennial and the Winter Carnival combined. Think Obama and McCain would also show up in the spirit of non-partisanship as we do away with Norm and Al, the two most partisan senate candidates in the country who ran the most toxic campaign in American history?
November 8th, 2008 at 5:25 PM
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November 8th, 2008 at 5:25 PM
I’d prefer the NHL approach. A shootout. We go and pick 3 random people off the street. They each cast a ballot. Winner takes all.
I know one election official who should never be invited back to help. Geez. If a hospital worker took someone medical records and “left them in their car”, they would be fired. Major privacy violation. If a bank employee took a bunch of lives checks and left them in their car for a week, they’d be fired. If a nurse had a bunch of flu shots in her trunk for a week, they’d be tossed. No way of knowing where they’ve been or where they came from. Integrity is gone.
I feel bad. No matter who wins, that crap that is coming will will make this election forever questionable.
November 8th, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Another thought—-how about we let the public weigh in through the web on choice of weapons?
a) paint ball
b) rubber
c) pistol
d) shotgun (magnum)
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE!
We need a committee to take charge of the rules and run it right—
How about Rudy Boschwitz, Vin Weber, Miles Lord, Walter Mondale and Arne Carlson? At least they could get it right.
November 8th, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Very legit post Michael. That should totally be investigated. I dont want to win the wrong way with crazy bs like that.
November 8th, 2008 at 6:46 PM
I like Dan’s idea—-quick, simple, fair and final. No crying when it’s over. I don’t think Norm or Al really have the guts to end it once and for all. It is really about them and not the people, isn’t it.
November 8th, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Let’s not forget that DFL election judges have a history of this kind of crap. In 2002, a Mower County burned 50 ballots in her fireplace at home before a recount could take place between Grace Schwab and Dan Sparks. Sparks ended up winning by just a handfull of votes because the court could not determine who the ballots were for.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Are absentee ballots just sent off into the ether with no paper trail to verify their validity? If anything, it seems like the validity of absentee ballots would be rather easy to verify.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:36 PM
I’m glad you all can make funny jokes…but I take elections seriously and it’s “like” so obvious the Dems are just a bunch of gangsters.
I want a state wide recount, supervised by adults from both sides (if the dems have any around – which is highly questionable. I also hope alot of people are prosecuted and actually go to jail .
November 8th, 2008 at 8:46 PM
These votes must be thrown out. And this election judge has probably violated the civil rights of 32 people by holding their ballots from fair consideration.
Why would these be in her car anyway. What, did absentee ballots get mailed to this person’s house? These are phony ballots and must not be allowed to enter the election.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:34 PM
This report makes no sense. In my experience, absentee ballots are delivered on election evening by a uniformed peace officer. Those ballots are run through the counters as soon as the polls close. Election officials do not have access to them prior to the count. The absentee ballots are added to the storage boxes with the other ballots and sealed to prevent tampering. These boxes are taken to the city clerks office.
Uncounted absentee ballots cannot be “discovered” several days later by an election official in his/her car. This sounds like a very unimaginative attempt to add to the Frankin fraud count. Prosecution of the election official should begin Monday.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Greg, here is the Strob Report. Again, you can;t use MikeDE for a news source, you only get one side, andhalf of that as it is!!
“”The 32 Minneapolis ballots were part of the normal delivery of absentee ballots late in the polling day, according to Election Director Cindy Reichert.
She said they were retained when they couldn’t be delivered because some polling places had shut down for the day. She said the ballots were kept sealed until other election duties were completed and were being counted Saturday afternoon, with results to be delivered to the state on Monday.”"
November 8th, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Anyone wonder who is in charge of all the undervotes? In most federal elections where the security of the ballots is in question, the U.S. Marshall’s office takes control. We have 25,000 blank ballots out there and who can be assurred that they are not being filled out right now, for either Al or Norm or some for each.
The fact is that the sanctity of the vote cannot be guaranteed in a very close election. The issues will never be adequately resolved. That’s why the coin toss in the only fair way to resolve this. The recount will not be legitimate no matter how it turns out.
I urge all of you to not get too worked up over this process. It stinks and there is nothing that can be done now to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Vin Weber had it right when he said that once the courts and the fighting start, we will have an unresolvable mess.
I worked on the Florida recount. I know how it is on the ground. Flip a coin.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:52 PM
City employees deliver absentee ballots in most cities – not police officers. We didn’t receive our absentee ballots until just as the polls were closing whereas usually we receive them at 3 pm in the afternoon. I’m not crying fowl. Our election supervisor, head judge and assistant head judge are all Republicans. There were more ballots this year than before and more runs for the city employees to do delivering items needed to the different locations. Not everything is a conspiracy. Sometimes things are as they say. If these are indeed absentee ballots that are unspoiled, these voters will not have already been signed on the registers or they will have new voter registration forms properly witnessed and enclosed. Why not wait to see what the truth is?
November 8th, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Absentee ballots are in sealed envelopes with the voters identification on the envelope.
How hard would it be to ask the 32 people, under oath, when they voted. If there is any indication of fraud, toss them all. But if this is a case of misplaced ballots, why shouldn’t they be counted?
I do agree the woman in question must be fired.
November 8th, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Yes, absentee ballots are sealed inside a privacy envelope and then sealed within an Identification envelope with name, authentication, precinct identifier, etc. These are NOT loose ballots just bouncing around. See, Mike knows this. He is as intimately involved and understands this process as anyone. But you know he would NEVER provide balance and fairness, only spin, misdirections, and deceit!
Again, Shameless Coleman and his operatives are trying to cast doubt on the integrity of a solid, clean, and well laid out process. If they had any honor at all left, they would join Team Franken in demanding all ballots be counted in a fair, legal and timely fashion. But we know that won’t happen. They know they lost and now just want to corrupt the process.
Flash
November 9th, 2008 at 12:44 AM
“well laid out process. ”
When did this process include driving around with ballots several days after the election?
“They know they lost”
You’re full of shit. Coleman still leads in this “recount”.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:50 AM
If the ballots found were cast for Al Franken, they should be allowed. Otherwise, they should be “fixed” to show intent to vote for Al Franken.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:01 AM
“Your charges that DFLers are all liars is getting a bit old”
If the shoe fits..
November 9th, 2008 at 2:28 AM
I filled out my Hennepin County absentee ballot at a deputy registrar when I was getting license tabs. That was a Notary Public could vouch for it. They wouldn’t accept it after I was done, instructing me that I had to mail it myself. It was postage paid.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:33 AM
They need to be postmarked or time stamped on or before the election day. Previous to this election I used to absentee vote and the Hennepin Gov Center. They would time stamp it and an election official would vouch this in my presence.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:59 AM
Let’s quit arguing—–FLIP A COIN.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:11 AM
Mr MoN:
“You’re full of shit. Coleman still leads in this “recountâ€.
Sen. Shameless still leads at this point in the canvassing process. No recount has begun. That will not happen until the Results are finalized and certified by the canvassing board. At that point, statute kicks in and the ballots will be recounted, by hand, to determine voter intent.
It is actually unusual the fluctuation has been so minor. In the past sometimes thousands of votes have switched and shuffled during the course of canvassing. Just as an example, lets look at the SoS Race between Kiffmeyer and Ritchie.
AP Number reported on election day compared to Final Canvas number
Ritchie GAINED 603 votes, Kiff LOST 231 votes for a +834 Net for Ritchie
Or US Senate that year.
Klobuchar – 666, Kennedy -3,520
These are standard fluctuations and is why we have a canvassing process, and a statutory recount provision right down to the standard outlining voter intent.
Flash
November 9th, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Mr Flash
Then please explain this ludicrous claim of yours
“They know they lost and now just want to corrupt the process.”
How does anybody know they lost at this point? Or do you know something you’re not telling (unlikely)
November 9th, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Mr. MoN:
It is hyperbolic rhetoric to counteract the Coleman Camps false claims of victory. Sorry if I get carried away sometimes. Mike’s tactics tend to rub off on me when I am here. I figured you would allow some rhetorical license as you seem to give Mike a blank check on them.
Listen, we have a process, and to cast aspersion on the canvassing and then challenge the recount before it even starts is shameless.
If the 32 ballots are still sealed in their security envelope and within their identification envelope, notarized by the witness of the voter, they should be counted. If there is any doubt, they should be set aside for the canvassing board to determine validity.
Here’s the rub, if the Coleman Camp continues to make a stink, and wins the battle of aspersion and integrity, this race could be thrown in the US Senate to decide, and Coleman loses for sure. Maybe he should think that through before he continues his assault on Minnesota Law!
Join me in allowing law to be carried out, and join me in acknowledging, today, that whomever is declared the winner after the law is carried out is my/your Senator.
Flash
November 9th, 2008 at 10:26 AM
“It is hyperbolic rhetoric” oh really?
“Maybe he should think that through before he continues his assault on Minnesota Law!”
How is going to a judge with a request an “assault on Minnesota Law!”. Or is this just more of your hyperbolic rhetoric?
I’ve got no problem “casting aspersions” on ballots that ride around in the trunk of a car well after they should have been counted.
“Join me in allowing law … blah blah blah”
I’ll wait to see HOW the law is carried out if you don’t mind.
November 9th, 2008 at 10:39 AM
[...] else can I explain his lack of effort to more aggressively secure ballots, his lack of concern over 32 “found†absentee ballots and his lack of strong public acknowledgment that someone holding onto absentee ballots for 72 [...]
November 9th, 2008 at 12:06 PM
[...] Minnesota Democrats Exposed, the only decent source of information on the recount Comments are closedComments are [...]
November 9th, 2008 at 3:00 PM
My money is on Franken, Ritchie, ACORN and Alinsky.
Coleman is being peeled like a banana.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:53 PM
It’s a shame the election is going to be stolen by the Democrats. But everyone should use this election to highlight ACORN’s violations and Bush should appoint a special prosecutor to investigate ACORN and crooks like Brunner in Ohio and Ritchie in Minnesota. If Obama was smart he would try to get Dems to back off stealing the election for Franken, because this will keep the subject front and center, another “distraction” for him.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:23 PM
It is absolutely amazing that people here are actually arguing that ballots that have been in a person’s car for three days are beyond suspicion. How in the tank for Franken do you have to be to blithely claim there is no problem at all with these ballots? Does this mean you also would have no problem with absentee ballots that for some unknown reason were found in a worker’s basement and just happened to materialize in time to help Franken’s cause? The answer is almost too obvious to require asking the question.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:58 PM
The ballots “found” in the election worker’s car may be only a portion of the ballots that were still in her car when the polls closed. Why go through the effort and risk to falsify ballots when you have several days to check the names on the envelopes against other records and make the ballots that are likely Coleman votes disappear?
November 10th, 2008 at 11:11 PM
What if these ballots favor Norm? What would you be saying then? I’m guessing it’s something like “A Democrat tried to steal Coleman’s votes but was found out”.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:09 PM
I’m glad this story was updated by the author with this link that at least puts out some of this story’s luster;
http://www.minnpost.com/davidbrauer/2008/11/12/4565/minneapolis_election_director_speaks_ballots_in_my_car_story_false
August 26th, 2009 at 1:11 AM
[...] voting machines are the wave of the future, but they won’t stop voter fraud (like finding uncounted ballots in the back of your car). Why not? Because computers are like houses—the only way to make a computer absolutely secure is [...]
October 10th, 2009 at 8:35 AM
[...] Minnesota Democrats Exposed, the only decent source of information on the [...]