A statewide hand recount of votes for Minnesota governor will begin Monday — three weeks after the Nov. 2 election.
Democrat Mark Dayton leads Republican Tom Emmer by 8,770 votes. Because the margin is within one half-percentage point of the total number of votes cast, an automatic recount is necessary, according to Minnesota state law.
The vote recount for Koochiching County will begin at 9 a.m. Monday and Koochiching County Auditor Bob Peterson hopes to finish by 5 p.m. that day.
“I don’t see this recount bringing any drastic changes to the overall outcome,” he said.
Peterson said he is prepared for the recount and hopes everything runs smoothly. He has reviewed specific online instructions and also has the experience from 2008’s recount between Sen. Al Franken and his challenger former Sen. Norm Coleman fresh in his mind.
“There have been adjustments made to the system since 2008 and I don’t see us running into any major problems,” he said. “Last time, if there were marks on ballots, like a thumb print, it had to be analyzed. Such challenges have been thrown out this time around.”
Peterson explained numbers in votes between Dayton and Emmer could change depending on how a ballot was marked. In many cases, ballot machines are unable to read ballots because the voter circled their chosen candidate’s name instead of filling in the oval as instructed. He said when voter intent is clear in such instances, the vote will be counted, which proves why a hand recount becomes necessary.
Peterson, election judges and International Falls Deputy Administrator Betty Bergstrom will assist in the county’s recount. The county will be reimbursed 3-cents per ballot by the state to cover the county’s recount expenses.
Peterson said the state board is expected to canvass the recount by Dec. 7 and a definite winner would be announced shortly after. However, as experienced in 2008, there is still the chance a candidate could take the recount to court, which could hold off a winner for months.
“Certification of election cannot be made if it is being contested in court,” Peterson said. “We’re hoping to avoid that and someone will take office as our new governor Jan. 3.”
