Minnesota News

Pioneer Press Opinion

It seems like there should be a better way to resolve super-close statewide elections, such as the U.S. Senate battle between incumbent Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken. Franken took the seat this month, eight months after Election Day, following a recount, court contest and appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Now that Norm Coleman has conceded, in the aftermath of today’s unanimous Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, the eight-month-long battle to determine who won last November’s election for the state’s U.S. Senate seat is finally over. Even as the concession eclipses the opinion in political importance—and appropriately so—the opinion will begin its life as one of the most legally significant resolutions of a disputed election in U.S. history.

By Jay Weiner, MinnPost.com

Away from the noise and glare of the Norm Coleman-Al Franken legal battle, a collection of election reform bills has been moving slowly and somewhat quietly through the Minnesota House and Senate.

Together, the pieces of legislation, if passed, would fundamentally change the way Minnesotans vote and the state's election system operates.

Star Tribune Editorial

Seldom are judges publicly faulted for following the law too exactly. But that is likely to be one of the issues raised in response to Tuesday's order by the three judges presiding over Norm Coleman's contest of Al Franken's 225-vote lead in their U.S. Senate race.