GOP Wins MN Ballot Deadline Case In Federal Court

TWIN CITIES, MN — An Eighth Circuit panel Thursday night ruled that election officials must "segregate" Minnesota ballots received after Election Day. The decision is a victory for local GOP groups, who sought to challenge Minnesota's extended Nov. 10 absentee ballot deadline.

"There is no pandemic exception to the Constitution," the court ruled. The ballots that arrive after Nov. 3 will be segregated in case a later ruling finds that all post-Election Day ballots in Minnesota must be thrown out entirely.

Minnesota Public Radio reporter Brian Bakst was among the first to break the news.

Immediately following the decision, Sen. Amy Klobuchar began warning the state's voters that it's too late to mail in their ballots, and that they should be submitted in person.

"BREAKING: Because of LAST MINUTE ruling, Minnesota DO NOT put ballots in mail any more," Klobuchar told voters on Twitter. "In the middle of a pandemic, the Republican Party is doing everything to make it hard for you to vote. Stand up for YOUR rights: Vote in-person or take mail-in ballot directly to ballot box."