Trump, Minnesota GOP candidates ask Supreme Court to separate late absentee ballots

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The campaigns for President Donald Trump and Republican state legislative candidates in Minnesota are petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to separate all mailed ballots received after Election Day in case of legal challenges to their validity.

The petition is the latest challenge to Minnesota’s seven-day extension for absentee ballots.  Earlier, a federal appeals court panel heard arguments on whether leaving the extension intact could lead to the disqualification of thousands of votes received after Nov. 3.

Attorneys for the GOP campaigns say the federal appeal might not be resolved by Election Day, making it “practically impossible” to identify ballots arriving after Tuesday unless they are separated.