Ventura thinks Election will End in Courts
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This sounds a bit like he is trying to justify his position that he should appoint an interim Senator, but it is still a cause for concern.
“I fully somewhat expect there will be litigation,” Ventura said in an interview after he met with staffers at the Department of Natural Resources this morning. “I can’t see a way around this. And I think it’s going to come in the form of how the election is held.”
He added, “It’s very difficult to say that it’s a fair election when they’ve already said that anyone that voted absentee with the name ‘Paul Wellstone’ won’t be counted, and anyone who voted absentee with the name ‘Norm Coleman’ will be counted.
“That to me right there creates an unfair election.”
Since Wellstone is dead, if there is a lame duck session, and the election is challenged in court, the balance of power could shift to the Republicans. I think the Democrats would be sufficiently outraged to block any action, but it is a cause for concern.
UPDATE: Atrios is also discussing this.
What seems strange to me is that the Coleman absentee ballots should automatically be counted. An election is among the candidates on the ballot. There could be people who voted for Coleman strictly because Wellstone broke his promise not to seek a third term and who would vote for Mondale if given the choice.
Comment 10/28/2002