Missing Votes for Al Franken

[amborin]

"...Al Franken's Senate campaign called on the Minnesota Secretary of State to launch a comprehensive investigation into the possibility of missing ballots in the state's recount election.

In a conference call with reporters on Monday, aides to the Democratic challenger said that they were growing increasingly concerned with news reports that ballots from Election Day -- which by state law must be recounted -- have gone missing.

"The number of votes counted on November 4th," said spokesman Andy Barr, "exceeds the number of ballots produced for consideration during the recount."

Marc Elias, Franken's chief lawyer, said that the campaign was not alleging foul play, noting that many of these missing ballots could be the product of administrative oversight or simple misplacement. But, with the election margin down to double digits (according to the Franken campaign's internal numbers, which they would not detail) he added that every single vote was of the utmost importance.

" should be a serious matter for cause and concern. That is why today we are calling on the Secretary of State to launch an investigation to find these ballots and make sure they are counted... to immediately instruct local elected officials to redouble their efforts to find all missing ballots," said Elias. "We know this is a close election... in an election this close we cannot let any lawful vote go uncounted."

The Coleman campaign, too, has said that reports of missing ballots should be taking seriously -- and there is little indication that these missing ballots would benefit one candidate or another. For example, on Friday, 74 ballots were discovered missing in St. Louis County, only to be found in a locked counting machine inside a warehouse. The county auditor said that the ballots contained votes for Franken and Coleman. On Thursday, meanwhile, the Center for Election Integrity MN ..."

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/24/franken-camp-calls-for-in_n_146140.html>

[Fridays Child]

1. k/r

[InternalDialogue]

2. I'll kick as well, with a personal aside.

As I watch this recount, I can't help but think about reading Franken's "Rush Limbaugh is..." several years ago and thinking how badly we needed this man in our government. I imagine back then he never could have imagined himself in the middle of a Senate race, much less a skin-tight recount.

Go, Al!

[grantcart]

3. If there is a god in heaven Al will win with either 1 vote or 69

What do we want? Patience!

When do we want it? Now!

[bleever]

4. Al's first-hand view of election irregularities

will make a deep and lasting impression, to everyone's benefit.

[breadandwine]

5. I've been worrying this sort of thing would happen.

Dang! All them Franken votes just squirreled away in them drawers and closets! Musta got stuck in there cause we couldn't stuff any more in!

Sounds like more GOP election stealing. Oops! Can't seem ta find them votes!

Franken would be ahead by now if there wasn't GOP hanky panky.

Then add to this that Georgia doesn't look good with Chambliss ahead in the polls and the Diebold machines ready to do the rest. We are looking at 58 seats in the Senate and probably not more, no filibuster-proof Democratic Senate at a time when the world faces calamity.

[FatDave]

8. 58 seats

Even still, I'll bet we can find two moderate repubs to play ball. They don't even have to vote for the bills, they just have to vote for cloture.

[amborin]

6. Franken's campaign needs money to wage this fight and win: here's a donation link:

<https://secure.alfranken.com/page/contribute/EM2008>

[amborin]

7. please donate anything to help him in this fight