Michael Brodkorb of Minnesota Democrats Exposed launched a Data Practices campaign today to try to count the uncounted absentee ballots in the Al Franken-Norm Coleman Senate race.

Of course, some of them – many of them – may not be legal ballots, but …

According to the MDE site, he’s seeking to open ballots in seven counties and four municipalities.

But he might have a major problem.

The state Data Practices Act specifically prohibits the opening of ballots (emphasis added):

“The following government data is classified as nonpublic data with regard to data not on individuals, pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 9, and as private data with regard to data on individuals, pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 12: Security information; trade secret information; sealed absentee ballots prior to opening by an election judge; sealed bids, including the number of bids received, prior to the opening of the bids; parking space leasing data; and labor relations information, provided that specific labor relations information which relates to a specific labor organization is classified as protected nonpublic data pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 13.”

Political Animal Rachel Stassen-Berger has more on this.

I’m trying to reach Brodkorb and will have more on this when I do.