Minnesota recount: accept or reject?

[DaveW]

This article is well worth looking at. It gives 11 examples of challenged ballots in the Minnesota Senate race.

There's a poll for every ballot. How would you adjudicate on each?

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/

 

[DaveW]

I'd advise you all to make your own mind up before letting my judgements prejudice your answers, but here's my assessment...












1. Franken. Intent clear; just a bit of spillage into the circle above.

2. Accept it. The distinguishing mark argument is cute, but a thumbprint is a very indirect way of indentifying oneself.

3. Franken. Intent clear; mark lines up with candidate.

4. Franken. Marked two boxes, but clearly wanted to reverse the Coleman mark.

5. Franken. The write-in ought to be rejected for several reasons:
a) There's no mark next to the write-in candidate. I don't think this would normally be important, but it surely is in light of (b) and (c)...
b) There's a filled-in box next to Franken
c) The voter has apparently written "Lizard People" into many contests. In the presidential contest, s/he actually filled in the circle.
d) "Lizard People" almost surely is not a registered write-in candidate anyway.

6. Franken. Clear intent: a circle AND a tick on the same line.

7. Coleman. Completely filled circle for Coleman; only partially filled for Franken.

8. Franken. As per (7)

9. Barkley. Eraser indicated clear intent to withdraw Franken vote.

10. Barkley. As per (7) and (8)

11. Coleman. Other choice crossed out (not underlined), clear intent to withdraw Franken vote.


I've looked for intent wherever possible. In the case of "overvotes" (i.e. two or more selections) I always go with the choice having the strongest indication of preference.

 

[A Living God]

Ballot #1 - Franken
Ballot #2 - Accept it
Ballot #3 - Nobody
Ballot #4 - Franken
Ballot #5 - Franken
Ballot #6 - Franken
Ballot #7 - Coleman
Ballot #8 - Franken
Ballot #9 - Barkley
Ballot #10 - Barkley
Ballot #11 - Reject it

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Ballot #1 - Franken
Ballot #2 - Accept it
Ballot #3 - Nobody
Ballot #4 - Franken
Ballot #5 - Franken
Ballot #6 - Franken
Ballot #7 - Coleman
Ballot #8 - Franken
Ballot #9 - Barkley
Ballot #10 - Barkley
Ballot #11 - Reject it

Yep, that's exactly how I see it. Too much doubt with #3 and #11 to accept them IMO.

 

[evo]

Is this really necessary Dave--PStoat already gave you your award.