Ramsey County: Emmer's Recount Case Flawed
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer is waiting to hear if the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear an emergency claim that there may have been more votes than voters in the election this year.
It means there could be a delay in the election recount of the governor's race.
The Minnesota Supreme Court is expected to say Friday evening whether it will hear Emmer's claim. If it does, it will begin on Monday.
DFL candidate Mark Dayton, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and both Hennepin and Ramsey counties have filed petitions with the court to throw out Emmer's lawsuit. Dayton says its real purpose is to "disrupt and delay" the election.
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Ramsey County election chief Joe Mansky says Emmer's basing his petition on an outdated, obsolete paper ballot law hasn't been used in nearly 30 years, since Minnesota started using electronic equipment.
Mansky says what Emmer wants, to randomly remove votes, would damage Minnesota election integrity.
"We are extremely reluctant to disenfranchise an innocent person who, through no fault of their own, might have their properly-voted ballot withdrawn at random from a ballot box," he said.
Dayton announced Friday that he is bringing onto his team the same lawyers Senator Al Franken had in his 2008 recount, led by Mark Elias.
If the Minn. Supreme Court hears the case Monday, it could push everything back. The certification of the election begins Tuesday. There will be a recount, most likely after Thanksgiving, but everything could be pushed back based on whether the court agrees to hear the case.
