OFFICE OF APPELLATE COURTS No. A08-2169 DEC 16 2008 —______FiLEp State of Minnesota In Supreme Court Norm Coleman, et al Petitioners, vs Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Secretary of State the State Canvassing Board, Isanti County Canvassing Board and Terry Treichel, Isanti County Auctor-Treasurer, individually and on bebaff of all County and Local Election Officers and County Canvassing Boards, Respondents, and Al Franken for Senate and Al Franken, Intervening Respondents. BRIEF OF AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE AND. AL FRANKEN IN OPPOSITION TO AMENDED PETITION AND MOTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF William Z., Pentelovitch (#85078) Mary R. Vasaly (#152523) Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP 3300 Wells Fargo Center ineapolis, Minnesota 55402-4140 ‘lephone: 612.672.8200 Pacsimile: 612.672.8397 David L. Lillehaug (#63186) Mare B. Blias (D.C. Bar # 442007) Steven Z. Kaplan (#53739) Kevin J. Hamilton (WSBA # 15648) Fredrikson & Byron, P.A Perkins Coie LLP 200 South Sixth Street 607 Fourteenth Street, NW, Suite 800 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Washington, DC 20005-2011 ‘Telephone: 612.492.7000 Telephone: 202.628.6600 Facsimile: 612.492.7077 Of Counsel Counsel for Al Franken for Senate and Al Franken‘TABLE OF AUTHORITIES..... INTRODUCTION. TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF ISSUES PRESENTED... ssn STATEMENT OF THE CASE... ARGUMENT... L I. ML. CONCLUSION ‘The State Canvassing Board Correctly Recommended that County Election Officials Identify and Count Absentee Ballots that, Pursuant to Cleat Minnesota Law, Were Erroneously Rejected... While Counting Erroneously Rejected Absentee Ballots Raises No Constitutional Concerns, Refusing To Count Them Would Violate Equal Protection, A. The Board’s Recommendation Is Fully Consistent with the Federal and State Constitutions... B. The Vague References Petitioners Make to Potential Complications Are Without Basis in Fact of Law. sere C. To Fail To Count Ballots Left Uncounted without a Statutory Basis for Rejection Would Violate the Federal and State Constitutions. D. Petitioners’ Proposed Procedures Would Produce a Disruptive, legal, and Unconstitutional Result... Petitioners’ Motion for Temporary Relief Should Be Denied Because Petitioners Have Not Shown That They are Entitled to Extraordinary Reliefs 12) 12 15 19. 22 24 20)TABLE OF AUTHORITIES FEDERAL CASES Burdick v. Takushi, 504 U.S. 428 (1992). 20, 28 Burson v. Preeman, 504 US. 191 (1992) cv 20 Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000) 13, 14, 19, 20, 21,22, 27 League of Wonen Voters ». Brunner, F.3d _, 2008 WL. 4999087 (6th Cit, 2008) vacuo 21 Pierce ». Allegheny Cly. Board Of Electrics, 324 F. Supp. 2d 684 (W.D. Pa, 2003)...ncnnnennnnn22 Reynolds ». Sims, 377 US. 533 (1964) nc Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 US. 1 (1964) 20 STATE CASES In re Application of Andersen ». Donovan, 19 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 1962)... non, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19,28 Breza v. Kiffmeyer, 723 N.W.2d 633 (Minn. 2006)... 1. 23, 24 In re Candidacy of Independence Ea Candidates Moore v, Kifer 688 N.W.2d 854 (Minn. 2004) a sen 28 City of Mounds View o. Metropolitan Airports Commission, 590 N.W.2d 355 (Minn. Ct. App. 1999) enn fee 28 Contest of Seb. District Election Held on May 17, 1988 v. Gross, 431 NAW.2d 911 (Minn, Ct. App. 1988) = 7 8,9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25 Costly ». Caromin House, Ine., 313 NW.2d 21 Minn. 198 )snnonnnnnnesnnnninnsesnee 24, 25 Dablberg Brother: Inc. ». Ford Motor Co., 137 NNV.2d 314 (Minn. 1965) 25, 26 Dougherty . Holm, 44 NW.2d 83 (Minn. 1950)... vo a) Eason 1, Independent School District No. 11, 598 N.W.2d 414 (Minn. C1. App. 1999) 25