The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 23, 2008

Our View — Senate recount is not a circus

No one was anticipating action-packed excitement, and in that regard, the recount of 2.9 million ballots to determine the official winner of the U.S. Senate race does not disappoint.

Which is pretty much what Minnesotans expected, but nonetheless, are relieved to see. All the brouhaha surrounding the impending recount was getting to be a bit much. And that’s likely the reaction of many voters whether they voted for Republican Sen. Norm Coleman or his challenger, Democrat Al Franken.

Despite complaints, innuendo and legal maneuvering by the Coleman and Franken camps, most Minnesotans have faith in our election laws and processes that the recount would be handled correctly. And recount numbers so far have reaffirmed that ballot-counting machines here have proven to be accurate.

So far, as indicated by the recounts held in our area last week and elsewhere in the state, it has been smooth sailing. That’s the expectation as the recount continues during the next week or so.

In Sibley County last week, even some of the observers for both candidates demonstrated it never hurts to retain a sense of humor. When the lead representative for Franken stepped up to the table, he deadpanned: “We found 208 extra Franken votes in this pile.”

“And we found a really big liar,” responded the Coleman representative.

In another county, campaign representatives reportedly met in a circle before the recount and shook hands like team captains before a game.

Most people just want a fair process. As observers of the recount can attest, the process is being handled professionally and very meticulously — so much so that most of us would rather watch a marathon of back-to-back episodes of televised county ditch hearings than spend the day watching the recount.

This is serious business. The county and state officials involved know that and are doing their best to see everyone follows rules and procedures.

The counties will be done recounting by Dec. 5, and then on Dec. 16 a canvassing board begins its work, which includes ruling on disputed ballots.

So far, as our local counties have demonstrated, Minnesota has once again shown it is a leader in handling election results — even if lawsuits may interfere with settling on a winner when all is said and done.

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