Minn. – The Minnesota Supreme Court has rejected Republican Norm Coleman's request to count an additional 650 rejected absentee ballots in the state's U.S. Senate recount.

The court's ruling Monday likely paves the way for the state Canvassing Board to certify results showing Democrat Al Franken won the race. But Coleman's attorneys have said they are likely to sue if he loses the recount, meaning it could be weeks more before the outcome is final.

Coleman had argued the ballots were improperly rejected. In a five-page ruling, the high court said the dispute was among issues better handled in an "election contest," or lawsuit.

Franken leads Coleman by 225 votes after the state finished counting more than 900 absentee ballots that the state and the campaigns earlier had agreed were improperly rejected.

Isn't that just scary?

I think it's high time (no pun intended) for Tommy Chong to run for Congress.

Then he and Arnie can get back to toking up!

Honestly, what ever side you are on on this election this is one more reason to vote.

Your vote can make a difference.

I read that some in congress plan to block Franken. Blocking the provisional seating of either candidate by either party is little more that a cheap political ploy in my opinion.

As I understand the state law in this case is as long as litigation is pending the election cannot be certified. It wouldn't take a brilliant lawyer to keep this election in court for months if not years thereby denying the people of the state a voice in the legislator.

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Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the incoming chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told reporters Friday that Republicans would object to seating Franken before the already lengthy process is finished.

"I can assure you that there will be no way people on our side of the aisle will agree to seat any senator provisionally or otherwise unless there is a valid election certificate and all legal issues about who got the most votes is finally decided," Cornyn said.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/legislative/senate/2009-01-02-franken-senate_N.htm
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