Ballot security could be issue in Minn. recount

[struggle4progress]

By PATRICK CONDON – 9 hours ago

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — St. Louis County keeps election ballots in the courthouse attic. Anoka County keeps them locked in the basement. Hennepin County relies on its cities to keep ballots safe ...

The campaigns have been negotiating neutral standards for ballot security after an unsuccessful court challenge Saturday by Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to halt the counting of 32 absentee ballots from Minneapolis. Coleman's campaign questioned the ballots' legitimacy, saying it was told the ballots had been left for several days in the car of a Minneapolis election official.

A city spokesman said the ballots were never unaccounted for, and the Coleman campaign later said it accepted those assurances. But with Coleman and Democrat Al Franken separated by a little more than 200 votes out of nearly 3 million cast, ballot integrity remains an issue ...

The last large-scale recount of a statewide election occurred in Washington state's 2004 gubernatorial race, which the Republican candidate initially appeared to win before losing to the Democrat after two recounts. In that case, vote totals changed several times upon discoveries of piles of uncounted ballots in several counties ...

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gMpTmr96V5hKIfyHT4Av4jsVQgrQD94CK6AG0

[elocs]

1. This case aside, in this country never underestimate the potential incompetence

of our election officials. Too many treat our election process which should be sacred and secure and above reproach with a light and casual disregard for it as if it is no more important then a vote for the prom queen. I don't expect our ballots to simply be stashed anywhere or toted around like a bunch of newspapers. I do expect them to be treated with respect and to be stored in a secure and fireproof safe and I don't think that is too much to ask.