Minnesota: 37 New Votes For Franken Found

On Ramsey County's last recount day, 171 previously uncounted ballots were discovered, from which Al Franken gained a potentially game-changing 37 net new votes. Like so much of the Minnesota Senate race, the ballots came with their own controversy as well. It appears that the total number of discovered ballots exceeds the number of people who voted on election day or with an absentee ballot by about 31. In light of the many other suspicious ballot discoveries this is, at the very least, troubling.

With the election in danger of becoming completely absurd, both the Franken and Coleman campaigns expressed their intent to try and reduce the mounting number of ballot challenges this week. However, it is clear that a number of legal actions will result from the race and recount already, and if the matter is referred to the Senate all the effort so far may be sacrificed. There is little doubt as to how the Democrat-controlled Congress would decide.

Incumbent Senator Coleman is reportedly still in the lead in the recount, by a margin of approximately 305 votes. The Franken campaign, using their own methodology, puts the margin at around 50. If the new votes stand then the race is truly razor thin. It will all rest on the decision of the canvassing board, the courts, and perhaps Harry Reid's Senate. Depending on the outcome in Georgia tonight, this seat might be the deciding factor in whether or not the Democrats have a filibuster-proof majority.

As recount dramas go, this one is box office gold. The stakes couldn't be higher, nor the mistakes more abundant. All other considerations aside, though, there is one stark lesson to be learned. When you are responsible for counting and producing ballots in an election, be responsible and produce the ballots. The pride Minnesotans purport to have for their electoral prowess is being sorely tested by Recount 2008 (which I understand is slated to replace "The Hills" on MTV any day).