Under careful watch from the right and left, Forest Lake City Administrator Chip Robinson on Thursday counted ballots in the state mandated recount of the U.S. Senate race where Republican incumbent Norm Coleman led Democrat Al Franken by 215 votes as the recount started on Wednesday. Robinson is helping with the Washington County recount that is taking place in Stillwater. When it is finished on Saturday, some 137,000 ballots cast in the county will have been counted again. Here, Robinson is flanked by Coleman recount observer Rolland Barber of Cottage Grove, left, and Franken observer Bill Wessinger of Cottage Grove, right. As of early afternoon on Thursday, the county elections division reported that more than 60,000 ballots had been recounted and 28 had been challenged — 20 by Coleman observers and eight by Franken observers. When the recount is concluded, all challenged ballots will go to the state canvassing board for a final ruling. Forest Lake City Deputy Clerk Chantal Doirott is also working as a recount judge this week.

(Photo By Cliff Buchan) 

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