Winona County begins its recount
The Winona County Auditors office is closed today and Thursday while officials recount the votes cast in the 2008 U.S. Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. At the beginning of the day, Franken still trailed Coleman, but the challenger did catch a couple of breaks Tuesday. As Ramsey County wrapped up its recount, officials there discovered and tallied 171 ballots that weren't counted on election night. Franken gained 37 votes on Coleman's lead. Coleman led by 215 votes out of 2.9 million cast before the recount. The lead has bounced up and down since the recount began, but the exact margin is difficult to know because both sides have put thousands of ballots in limbo through challenges. The disputed ballots won't be sorted out until a canvassing board meeting that begins Dec. 16. Minnesota counties must complete their work by Friday.
