Minneapolis finishes counting ballots in two wards

IRV ballots
Ballots and other materials were delived to tables during the first day of hand-counting in Minneapolis, Nov. 4, 2009.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Minneapolis elections officials have finished counting ballots in two wards. That means two council members can openly declare victory.

Council members Besty Hodges of the 13th Ward and Sandy Colvin Roy of the 12th Ward both already had sizeable leads in the first choice balloting on Election Night. But because Minneapolis voting machines were not certified to count instant runoff ballots, an official result required a manual count.

Election officials say they processed more than 10,000 ballots between the two wards and that the counting went smoothly. However, results for the area's park board seat will come a little later. No candidate received a majority of first choice votes, so that race went to the rounding process.

The results of all the races from city elections should be certified by December.

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