Minn. election won't be decided this year

ST. PAUL - Minnesota voters won't know who won the state's US Senate race this year, and it's looking more likely that the new Congress will be sworn in before the race ends between Democrat Al Franken and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.

The state Canvassing Board yesterday scheduled a Jan. 5 meeting and its chairman said the panel's work could spill into Jan. 6, the day the next Congress convenes.

Democrat Al Franken leads Republican Senator Norm Coleman with an increasingly small number of ballots yet to consider. Franken finished the day up 47 votes, according to a preliminary report by the secretary of state's office. An earlier report by the office had placed the margin at 48 votes but the Canvassing Board made one correction costing Franken a vote.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said there is no way the board will certify a winner this year. Counties have until Dec. 31 to forward uncounted absentee ballots to the board for possible inclusion. Ritchie's office and the campaigns could agree to extend that deadline a few days.

"We are not in any way guided by any Washington consideration, timeline," said Ritchie, a Democrat.

ASSOCIATED PRESS