Franken Asks Counties to Count Disqualified Ballots

Claiming a four-vote lead with all but a few missing ballots counted, Democrat Al Franken’s campaign asked the state’s 87 counties to open and count absentee ballots they allege were improperly disqualified.

“Today we are sending a letter to all 87 counties asking them that…the ballots for which there is no legal justification for them not being counted be opened and counted,” said Franken attorney Marc Elias in a conference call Friday.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office had ordered counties to sort rejected absentee ballots earlier this week, the fifth category of which include ballots local officials deem to have been improperly disqualified.

“While we are pleased that we remain ahead in this recount, we want to give our thanks and appreciation for all Minnesota