In past statewide recounts, how much did the results change? NT

[Eric J in MN]

NT

[mzmolly]

1. Goodness knows. Is Al demanding a recount? If not I think he should.

:shrug:

[SomeGuyInEagan]

2. State law mandates it ... even if a candidate concedes

At least according to the story I heard on Minnesota Public Radio this morning - any time the first ballot count shows a one-half percent of smaller margin, automatic recount by hand.

That means a lot of votes could turn up as some people put a check mark or "X" over the circle or even circle the circle and the scan machine cannot read it. The voting judges will then decide what they believe to be the voter intent of each ballot (or throw it out if they can't come to a conclusion).

[mzmolly]

3. Good to know.

:hi:

[dflprincess]

6. Weasel boy is claiming that Franken should accept the results

and tell the state not to do the recount. Given that state law mandates the recount, it isn't known whether or not Franken could do this if he wanted to.

Normie is such an ass.

[ISUGRADIA]

4. Look the 1962 election

DFL Rolvaag was behinde, the Repub was inagurated, then the courts seated Rolvaag in March 1963

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rolvaag

[lojasmo]

5. Seven votes in 2006.

But this election cycle is a whole different dog. LOTS of provisionals and such, I imagine.

[CatholicEdHead]

7. The 700 vote margin is going to be awfully tough to overcome

[Eric J in MN]

8. It's now less than 500.

Republican NORM COLEMAN 1211644 41.99
Democratic-Farmer-Labor AL FRANKEN 1211167 41.98

http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races=%27%27

[Bjorn Against]

9. It is only a .01% margin, and machines do not count perfectly

Franken's chances of winning are close to 50/50. Hand counts have been proven to be more accurate than machine counts and you can be assured the vote totals will be different than what you are seeing now. The chances of the handcount matching the machine count perfectly is virtually zero, the question is how large the difference in votes is and what direction that difference falls in. Franken's chances are a lot better than many realize.

[dflprincess]

10. With the hand count, Minnesota requires that the intent of the voter be considered

so if someone put an "X" by a candidates name rather than fill in the circle the vote will be counted this time. Both candidates are apt to pick up votes that a machine wasn't able to read. Hopefully, Franken will pick up more.