The 2010 gubernatorial recount won’t be like the recount in 2008. First of all, the margin of victory is almost 30 times greater than it was in 2008. Second, absentee ballots won’t be such a focal issue.

Rachel E. Stassen-Berger reports that very few absentee ballots were rejected this year. Only four of 691 military overseas ballots were rejected. Only six of 1,281 regular overseas ballots were rejected. Of a little over 128,000 regular absentee ballots received on time, 3,041 were rejected. That means even if every rejected absentee ballot was counted and they all voted for Emmer, it still wouldn’t be enough to overcome Dayton’s lead.

The Pioneer Press noted Emmer’s coyness when asked if he will challenge the recount results. Although he wouldn’t come out and say he would appeal, Emmer alluded to the fact that his party will challenge the results. MinnPost observes that Emmer didn’t hire ex-Supreme Court chief justice Eric Magnuson, known for his appeals court talents, to tell Emmer to give up.

The consensus seems to be that an appeal to the results of the recount is likely. MPR reports:

While Emmer has declined to say whether he’s planning a legal challenge after the recount, he and the Republican Party appear to be gearing up for one. They have raised concerns over a reporting error in Hennepin County, over rejected absentee ballots and over military ballots.

A high-ranking GOP official told the Star Tribune they don’t see any downside to deadlocking the recount process for a while. Keeping the recount going means the newly elected GOP-led legislature would have a Republican governor (Pawlenty) when the legislative session begins. There’s no reason to drag the recount on. It’s almost statistically impossible for Emmer to get the votes needed to overturn the results. We need to get to work and the people of Minnesota need to have a new governor by January 3.

Photo credit: MN AFL-CIO