State Canvassing Board picks up steam on second day of reviewing challenged ballots
The State Canvassing Board has ground through about 420 challenged U.S. Senate ballots — at times today the board worked at a 50-ballot an hour clip, said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.
“We’re going to get this done Friday night,” said Ritchie of wading through all the challenged ballots.
Late Friday night, he added.
Yesterday, on a partial workday, the board ground through about 160 ballots.
But Ritchie added that the board would not be certifying or signing-off on the election this week.
About 92 percent of the board’s rulings on the challenged ballots have been unanimous, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
One variable that may impact the pace of the board is the Minnesota Supreme Court.
The court heard oral arguments today on a Coleman petition concerning rejected absentee ballots but as of late afternoon has not rendered a decision.
Supreme Court Justice Alan Page suggested that a decision would come quickly.
