Watch CBS News

Statewide Results For 2012 Election Could Be Latest Ever

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It could be a late night before we know the results of this year's election.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said on WCCO Sunday Morning that election results for Tuesday will be more delayed than in the past.

He said because of write-in candidates in the State Representative race to replace Kerry Gauthier, the votes in that district will have to be hand counted.

Rep. Gauthier was forced to drop out of the race because of a sex scandal.

That process will likely hold up the results for all of St. Louis County -- one of the largest counties in the state.

Ritchie said results from St. Louis County likely will be in -- at the earliest -- after 1 a.m. Wednesday. He said it's likely it could be even later than that.

"We estimate that this may go to 1 a.m., 2 a.m., perhaps a little bit longer, in the morning," he said. "St. Louis County has traditionally been one of the last reporting, because it's so large and so many of the precincts are hours away from the central point, the county seat."

Duluth and St. Louis County won't know the results until the wee hours of the morning, he said.

That means, close statewide races, like the Marriage Amendment and the 8th Congressional District, will likely be all-nighters.

Watch Mark Ritchie's full interview above.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.