Franken wins battle for release of rejected absentee ballots

Image by Dan Corrigan for City Pages

Al Franken won his court battle for absentee ballot data today, according to the Star Tribune.

More from the Star Tribune:

Ramsey County officials must release all written information it has on absentee ballots that were rejected or not counted, a judge ruled this afternoon.

Ramsey County District Judge Dale Lindman granted a temporary injunction to the campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken, ruling that the information Franken is seeking is "public data" under the state Data Practices Act and that it should be turned over to the campaign by the end of the day.

Franken's campaign wanted access to rejected absentee ballots to ensure they were rejected for legitimate reasons.

In his order, Lindman wrote: "The harm that [Franken's campaign] would suffer absent a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction far outweighs any harm to [Ramsey County]. With each passing hour, the Franken campaign is irreparably harmed in its efforts to ensure that each valid vote is properly counted and to prepare for the procedures that will decide this election."