Dec. 8-18: Local election officials sort rejected absentee ballots, separating those rejected for reasons not specified in state law, or in error.

Friday, Dec. 12: The state Canvassing Board meets to consider the issue of including certain rejected absentee ballots in the recount.

Tuesday, Dec. 16: The Canvassing Board meets to receive the results of the recount and begin the process of resolving ballots the Franken and Coleman campaigns have challenged.