Posted: January 12, 2009

Franken asks state officials for election certificate

The AP reports that the Franken campaign has sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie asking that they issue an election certificate to Al Franken so that he may be seated by the Senate.  The letter says that the Senate shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its own members and that the ongoing election contest should not stop the two officials from issuing the certificate.  The Senate last week said that it would not seat Roland Burris, who was appointed by a scandal-tainted Governor Blagojevich to fill President-elect Obama’s Senate seat, without a certificate signed by the state’s governor and secretary of state.  This implies that they will not seat a winner from Minnesota without a certificate either.  However, the same AP report questions whether Senate rules require a certificate or just provide recommendations for the form of such certificates and the keeping of records.  Illinois’ attorney general says no law requires the Secretary of State’s signature on appointments.  The Franken campaign plans to file documents in Coleman v. Franken later today.  Any new filings will be posted to our case page.