Minnesota Supreme Court Hearing Live Thread

Minnesota Supreme Court, Minnesota Public Radio ^ | 10/31/02 | TonyInOhio

[TonyInOhio]

The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments at 11:00 EST (10:00 CST) on the status of absentee ballots in next week's election.

Minnesota Public Radio will carry the hearing live. You can hear it live here (click on "Live MPR audio stream" on the lower right). The Court's information officer said KSTP Television may be providing live coverage as well.

Please post what you see and hear, here.

[TonyInOhio]

The Hennepin COunty attorney sounds like he just got out of law school. :-)

[MrNeutron1962]

Yup, Peepholes en glass mouses, shouldn't throw bones. Everyone here is typing fast and trying to think on the go. Spelling errors are very hard to see on a computer screen. I try not to comment on other peoples spelling errors; but, in this case I am jumping to the defense of those who make them.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Thanks. This does not ring true. Page would have won in a walk imho. Anonymous sources are less than convincing. Nor do I believe the DFL would not have nominated him because he is Black. They would jump at that chance if he were even slightly interested.

[deport]

MINNESOTA ELECTION CODE

The link will take you to the code. It has various sections dealing with the issues. Just click.

[steveegg]

You nailed it. BTW, welcome the land of the posting...

Otta B Sleeping

Proudly losing sleep by posting since October 9, 2002

I really miss the old Member since that JohnRob used to have.

[hoosiermama]

tanks

[Hunble]

"We believe that if someone contacts the election officials and states that their previous ballot does not reflect their current views, then they should be provided a new ballot."

Actually, I agree with this one.

[bigaln2]

The Hennepin COunty attorney sounds like he just got out of law school. :-)

Either that or this might be his first (and probably only) time speaking before the Supreme Court.

Also, it would seem that, in theory, he's arguing that if you had voted for, say, Coleman, but now that Mondale is in the race, you could claim now that you are not actually intending to maintain your vote for Coleman and he's saying that you would have the right to an additional ballot...

[Spiff]

Presented by the Federal Election Commission

Individual Contributions Arranged By Type, Giver, Then Recipient

Contributions to Political Committees


MEYER, HELEN M
ST LOUIS PARK, MN 55416
MEYER & ASSOCIATES

CIRESI, MICHAEL V     VIA CIRESI FOR SENATE
	05/15/2000	500.00	20020190866

MEYER, HELEN M. MS.
ST. LOUIS PARK, MN 55416
MEYER & ASSOCIATES P.A./PRESIDENT

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - CONTRIBUTIONS
	06/19/2002	250.00	22991388150

MEYER, HELEN MARIE
EDINA, MN 55436
HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER

MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC FARMER LABOR PARTY
	04/01/2002	250.00	22991680212

MEYER, HELEN MARIE
EDINA, MN 55436
MEYER & ASSOCIATES

WELLSTONE, PAUL DAVID     VIA WELLSTONE FOR SENATE
	06/23/2001	1000.00	21020182049

Total Contributions:    2000.00

RETURN TO: FEC HOME PAGE

[amarsh]

Has anyone thought about how this whole situation is relates to this issue, reported only a week and a half ago?:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/771434/posts

[Otta B Sleepin]

LOL....thanks for the welcome!

[Congressman Billybob]

Thank you for posting the applicable Minnesota law. That makes it clear that in Minnesota, as in New Jersey and Hawaii, the Democrats are asking the Supreme Court of the state to rewrite the election laws, contrary to how the legislature wrote them before the election began.

The New Jersey SC DID rewrite their state's election laws, which was a violation of the US Constitution. The Hawaii SC, to its credit, refused two different requests by the Democrats to rewrite its election laws. Now the Democrats are playing the same game in Minnesota.

IMHO, any decision other than counting the absentee ballots (including the military ones) exactly as they were cast, will violate Minnesota law and thereby violate the US Constitution. (Recall that the Constitution gives power over the election laws of the states ONLY to "the legislatures of the states," not to the courts of the states.)

If the Minnesota Court is honest and respects the law, they will refuse the request to throw out the previously cast absentee ballots. (Every vote on such ballots should count, except for any Wellstone votes -- because in Minnesota, unlike Hawaii and Missouri, the dead candidate is automatically removed from the ballot.)

In the event that the Minnesota SC grants relief to the Democrats, this case should be brought to the US Supreme Court to be consolidated with the Torricelli case that is still there, and still live, for a decision in due course after the election.

Congressman Billybob

A Dispatch from the Front, Plus Some Comments on Norwegian Charisma

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[LS]

Be clear: Page was unacceptable BECAUSE of his race, not "due to this race." The Dems didn't think a black could win.

[justshe]

After listening to the Justices questioning in the NJ Supremes hearing....and seeing what their decision was...I will never again use 'questions' as an indicator. I was totally snookered.

[steveegg]

I doubt it changes the Communists' zeal one bit.

[Hunble]

Rep of the Republican party up now.

[danneskjold]

Yes, every vote should be counted. But how the heck do you do it in only 5 days?

Here's another way to look at it. What if the candidate you've voted for dies in the middle of the election day?

Also, what about the voters who vote for a candidate based on the candidate's campaign promises, and then the candidate, once elected, fails to deliver on the promises, or even does the opposite? Have those voters been dis-enfranchised?

Technically, yes. However, there is no remedy for this (other than to vote him out in the next election).

By voting early, you are giving up the ability to decide at the last minute in the event that something changes.

Is this perfect and always fair? No. Is this still the best system? Yes.

[steveegg]

Thanks. May one of your clients decide he wants in yet.

[bigaln2]

I think that he has hit the nail right on the head: by Olmstead County's refusal to send out absentee ballots, they are inherently disenfranchising voters.

[steveegg]

No problem. Someone has to keep up the tradition, and you warranted a good word.