MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) - Republican Norm Coleman's attorneys Monday sent a letter to the three judges overseeing the election trial asking them to reconsider their game-changing ruling from Friday that put significant limits on the types of rejected absentee ballots they want examined.
The judges on Friday outlined about a dozen categories of ballots that should not be counted because they said those categories of ballots were not legally cast under Minnesota law. Those included ballots in which signatures didn't match, those submitted by non-registered voters or those inside a return envelope not signed by the voter.
But Coleman, who is seeking to add more rejected ballots to the recount of his November 4 race with Democrat Al Franken for a U.S. Senate seat, argued that not including all of about 4,800 ballots he wants re-examined was a matter of equal protection.
In their letter sent to the court Monday, Coleman's team is arguing that "likely thousands" of the ballots that had been sifted through during the recount process could have fallen under these now-taboo categories.
"Without a remedy, we will be faced with a widespread equal protection problem that would not only violate the law, but create Constitutional legal issues that would only delay this process further," Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg said.
The court also ruled that absentee ballots dropped off on election day and absentee ballot applications that were not signed would not be reconsidered.
After these new guidelines defining legitimate ballots, Coleman's attorneys estimated that around 3,300 ballots might be eligible for re-examination.
There is no word on when the court could issue another order on this, if they decide to at all.
The state's hand recount completed in early January and gave Democrat Al Franken a lead of 225 votes. The trial moved into its fourth week of proceedings on Monday.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Norm plz take your long face A$$ home!!!
"Funny – all the libs chiding Coleman to "go away" are the same one's saying Bush stole the election!"
And all the Rethuglicans who want him to stick around are the same people who held up signs proclaiming 'Sore-Losermann' in 2000 when Gore made his legal challenges!
Its fun being a hypocrite isn't it?
There we go again, another Republican presuming that justice is only done when the decision is in his favor.
This guy is so lame. I cannot believe anyone in MN can stand such a sore loser (and I not only supported but donated to McCain, I am not politically disinclined to Coleman's party).
Coleman, give up your sleaze-fest.
Hey Ray Ray,
Not too bright are you?
You said: "Funny – all the libs chiding Coleman to "go away" are the same one's saying Bush stole the election! Hypocrites!"
You should look up the word hypocrite to see what it actually means. Then re-read what you wrote and see if it makes ANY sense.
Ray Ray;;;;;; get together with Mike and go play with each other, your both too stupid to know where you live so why sould we listen to you two stupids
PLEASE WAKE ME UP WHEN COLEMAN GUITS. I DOESNT KNOW TIME TO LET IT GO. OR HE'S THINK ABOUT HE COULD MAKE PROGESS LONG FOR NEXT ELECTION.
DO FOR US.
FROM MN
HOW SAD!
Mike – Houston
Who's pulling your strings???????
Why in this day and age is there any controversy at all over the counting of ballots? If there is any rules at all follow the rules, if there isn't then isn't it about time we made some?
Mr. Coleman needs to be an honorable gentleman and stand down, just as Mr. Gore did in the presidential election, 8 years ago.
I agree with Coleman. Judges, please reconsider your ruling concerning hearing this matter. Dismiss this insult of a case. Whose paying for the court's time in these proceedings?
Ray Ray is right. Isn't a fair recount all we Gore voters really wanted? That's all Coleman is asking for. And read the whole article before posting please. Coleman is NOT asking for forged ballots to be counted. He's saying that some of the ballots in the last recount fell under categories the court is now calling prohibited.
You lost Coleman. Get over it and move on
Norm, we are all sorry and tearful you won't get the Senate pension since you did not serve that second term, now it is time to get a real job just like the rest of us!
For a guy whose teeth look false, so do his hopes in trying to gain the upper hand. He has lost, that ought to give him something to 'chew' on.
Coleman only lost because the people realize he is a loser. The controversy is because the winner is not much better. We need an option in this country on every election of "none of the above". If that selection wins then try again with new candidates. Acorn? Why do some hate having every one vote? Oh, yes, they voted for Bush in 2000.
Tyler-One more republican and we have to listen to the Old Wrinkly Party complain.
What is this about? Is Coleman and the GOP just trying to pursue this long enough so that Franken can't vote on too many of the President's measures? This has gone on long enough. Coleman now wants ballots that are clearly unacceptable to be counted. Since when did ballots that weren't signed allowed to be counted? Or ballots from unregistered voters? The judges need to stop this farce.
Writing a letter to a Supreme Court (or any court) to WHINE about a ruling of the court is not likely to be taken very seriously. I'm not even a law student and I can tell you that just whining about a ruling without having any valid legal argument for your position will probably result in your getting laughed out of the courtroom by the judges.
The recount is over, and it is clear that you lost. Why don't you accept that fact and let the people of the great state of Minnesota get on with their lives?
Give it up Coleman , move on !
And buy a new tie , please!
Coleman needs to stop acting like a kid
You LOST move on and let the person who was voted in take his seat
Grow Up!!
You will not be missed!!
Hes just another sulky mouth piece like McCain and Lindsay Graham
Americans are sick of all of your rants!!!
Norm! Come on, now. You are denying your state representation in the Senate for your little vanity project. THE ENTIRE WORLD ISN'T AGAINST YOU, Smilin' Norm. Just the facts! Move on!
Norm – give it up dude, your acting like a loser more than ever.
I think he's asking the voters for another chance, maybe a fat one!