Crow Wing County auditor testifies at recount trial

Deborah Erickson, Crow Wing County auditor, testified in the Minnesota U.S. Senate recount trial Friday.

"It was pretty quick and short," Erickson said. "It went really well. They seem to be doing what they need to do."

She was before the three judges for about a half hour. Judges had questions on six rejected ballots. Four were rejected because the voter signed in the wrong place. One was rejected because for no registration card and one was rejected because the ballot was delivered to the polling place and not the auditor's office.

Erickson said the judges had questions about the process and circumstances for the particular ballots and noted 90 percent of the rejections came because the voter signature was absent. Erickson said her office had highlighted the envelopes and directions to assist voters on that aspect.

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is meeting with officials, including representatives from Crow Wing, Aitkin, Morrison, Wadena counties on Monday in Brainerd to talk about ways to improve the election process.

Erickson said some of the larger counties had longer and more detailed testimony Friday. It was her first time testifying before the appellate court. About 10 people were in the gallery with three attorneys on each side. Staff members handled county documentation and put ballots in question on a projector so everyone could see the item in question.

Neither DFLer Al Franken nor Republican Norm Coleman were present.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.