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LWVMN Statement on the MN Supreme Court RulingJuly 1, 2009 This week's Minnesota Supreme Court ruling finding that Al Franken received the most legally-cast votes in the 2008 U.S. Senate election was an affirmation of Minnesota's election system. Regardless of the candidate one supported in November, all Minnesotans should be proud that our election laws ensured a fair, honest and accessible voting process and election officials in counties, cities and townships across Minnesota carried out those laws. While the recount was long and tried the patience of many Minnesota voters, it showed that our system works. In communities throughout Minnesota, election officials and volunteers worked tirelessly to examine the ballots that were cast in the U.S. Senate race. Every aspect of our election system was examined for problems or irregularities; the Minnesota Supreme Court found that it held up well under this close examination. It is important to note that all parties agreed – the attorneys from the Coleman and Franken campaigns, as well as the Supreme Court justices – that voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in Minnesota. In the arguments before the court in early June, Mr. Coleman's attorney Joe Friedberg was asked if voter fraud may have hurt his client in the election. His answer was “absolutely not.” We hope that this affirmation by all sides will put the false claims of voter fraud to rest. LWVMN remains concerned about the large number of rejected absentee ballots. While we agree that the court ruled properly within the confines of the current law with regards to the 12,000 rejected absentee ballots, we are disturbed that our absentee ballot laws confused so many who voted in good faith. Legislation which would have simplified the process passed both the House and the Senate last session; it was vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. LWVMN will continue to work on legislation to streamline our absentee ballot process in the 2010 legislative session. Other Public Statements: |
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