Canvassing boards to certify results today

The post-election race for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota will move into a new stage this week.

The state's 87 counties have been counting ballots and double checking their tallies since last Tuesday's election.

State law gives them seven days to certify their results, which will then be sent to Minnesota's Secretary of State.

The week-long audit, known as a canvass, has been behind the fluctuating results in the race between Republican U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and his Democratic challenger, Al Franken.

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Coleman leads Franken by just 221 votes, less than one hundredth of one percent of the 2.8 million votes cast in the race.

An official recount of the vote hasn't started. A recount is automatic under state law, although but either campaign could step in and ask a court to oversee a statewide ballot examination.

Both campaigns were in court this weekend over 32 absentee ballots found late Friday in Minneapolis.

A final total is scheduled to be certified by a five-member state canvassing board next week.