Recounting Scanned Ballots in Minnesota
UPDATE: After this post was old, I learned that voter intent standards had been used in some Iowa recounts. So my interpretation of Iowa Code must be in error.
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They have begun the recount in the Senate race in Minnesota. Originally the ballots were scanned as Iowa ballots are scanned, but the close outcome led to the recount.
Minnesota is a “voter intent” state. Iowa is not. In Iowa “The mark shall be consistent with the requirements of the voting system in use in the precinct.” see Code of Iowa 49.92 and 49.99. In Minnesota the recount teams must determine what the voter really wanted no matter what way he used to mark his ballot. Ballots that the machine read one way could legitimately be read differently by the recounters.
Here’s a sample of Minnesota ballots you can judge. As you view them, consider this: would the ballot be counted differently in Iowa than in Minnesota?