Minn. Senate recount spills into weekend

St. Paul, Minn. (AP)

November 22, 2008 10:34 AM

Counting ballots — Sherri Nesseth, 42, of St. Paul, Elections Sorter for the Recount, compared original ballots to duplicates for accuracy as representatives from both the Coleman and Franken campaigns observed. St. Paul, MN November 20, 2008.
MPR Photo/Caroline Yang

The weekend isn't bringing any respite in the Minnesota Senate recount.

Ballots in the ultra-close race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken are being counted in at least three counties Saturday.

Fifty-three counties have reported complete results to the secretary of state, meaning fewer than three dozen remain. As of Friday night, at least 60 percent of the estimated 2.9 million ballots had gotten a second look.

Coleman entered the recount with a 215-vote edge over Franken. That lead has dropped to 115 votes when comparing totals in precincts where the new count is complete. But the figure doesn't include ballot challenges, which have caused vote tallies for both men to drop.

Piles of ballots — Justin Roskopf, 22, of St. Paul, an Election Judge, served as an incident recorder at the recount of Ramsey County ballots in St. Paul, MN November 20, 2008.
MPR Photo/Caroline Yang

There have been 1,525 challenges between the campaigns, although some could be withdrawn before the Canvassing Board's Dec. 16 meeting.

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