Letters to the editor for Tuesday, Nov. 25

Absentee rejected ballots are rejected because the voter did not follow the rules as outlined by the Minnesota Secretary of State's 2008 Election Judge Guide. If these rejected ballots are included in this recount, it could mean that in future elections these rules no longer apply.

ILENE G. HOLEN, RICHFIELD;

ABSENTEE ELECTION JUDGE

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Election judges are trained by election officials who have also been trained. There are rules that govern accepting or rejecting absentee ballots. When absentee ballots are sent to voters, they include clear instructions on the process. Two judges of different political parties go through the absentee ballot envelopes. If there is a question the judges check with the head judge or election official. If the rules have not been followed, not signing the envelope for example, the ballot is rejected. This is before any envelopes are opened, so no ballots are seen.

Rules are rules, and I do not know why the candidates feel they should question our election process because something is not going their way.

SANDIE LARSON, ORONO

The League of Women Voters' mission statement states that the league is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. Just how that mission was fulfilled in our recent election is apparent in so many ways.

By the numbers: 10,000 voter cards were printed in English, Somali, Lao, Spanish and Hmong and distributed to 26 community organizations and libraries in immigrant and low-voter turnout areas of Minneapolis; 500 extra copies of the Voters Guide were inserted in neighborhood newspapers; members spoke at 12 community gatherings, networking groups and on the radio; 16 voter registration events; over 500 hot-line calls were fielded by 21 volunteers; 6,351 sessions were recorded in the league's expanded website; volunteers were moderators or time keepers at three candidate forums; 67 members delivered ballot boxes for the city on election night while others delivered absentee ballots to precincts on Election Day.

Many members staffed KidsVote booths at polling sites where youngsters learned the voting process. The good will that resulted from all these efforts was especially reflected in the hot-line calls where questions were answered about the location of a polling place, arranging a ride to get there, the option of curbside voting, assuring employee time off to vote, and more.

KAY SCHIMKE, MINNEAPOLIS

A driver's test does not include questions about pop music or nutrition; it determines if the test taker has the knowledge necessary to be a competent driver. A graduation test should determine if students have the skills necessary to be successful adults.

Sure, we need more engineers, but we don't need everyone to be an engineer. We need chefs, too, but we don't need everyone to be a chef.

A coworker suggested an elegant solution. Require all legislators to take any graduation test and publish the results.

ROLF BOLSTAD, MINNEAPOLIS

Why doesn't the University of Minnesota follow the example of the University of Chicago (decades ago) and give up on intercollegiate football? Concentrate on education, and quit pretending to have competitive football skills. 0-55? Embarrassing to the whole state!

PHIL HUNT, MINNETONKA

I think there's a price to be paid for the fine performance by the Gophers in their last game in the Metrodome. How about this? Tim Brewster, his entire coaching staff, the student managers and every Gopher player can each bring 55 donuts to campus and hand them out at the gates of the new stadium before next year's home opener. Or maybe before the next home game with Iowa.