A St. Paul news station quoted a local election official's estimate of 6,000 "spolied" ballots that would be uncovered during the recount. Its at the link. "Spoiled ballots" are those rejected by an optical scan machine -- Minnesota has them recounted by hand to see if the voer's intent is ascertainable. Franken is down by less than 500.
A St. Paul news station quoted a local election official's estimate of 6,000 "spolied" ballots that would be uncovered during the recount. Its at the link. "Spoiled ballots" are those rejected by an optical scan machine -- Minnesota has them recounted by hand to see if the voer's intent is ascertainable. Franken is down by less than 500.
This would seem to make a Franken win eminently plausible -- he would only need to win the spoiled ballots by about 8% (back of envelope math). This unfortunately assumes that 100% of spoiled ballots can ultimately be awarded to one candidate rather than the other. What percentage of "spolied ballots" will reflect a salvageable voter's intent, and what percent will involve two chosen candidates, an attempt to erase, or some other fatal flaw?
Somebody has had enough experience to know the answer to this, and we might as well find out now, rather than wait until mid-December. A Senate with 57 dems rather than 58 could look very different indeed. Anyone?
St. Paul Article