Skip to main content

Contested election of Elmer L. Andersen to office of governor of State of Minnesota, 1962-1963

 Collection — archives box: 01, Folder: 01-20
Identifier: SMHC Collection 0125

Scope and Contents

The twenty-volume transcript of the Ramsey County District Court hearing contains information regarding the counting and disposition of disputed or challenged ballots. The papers are in chronological order from 10 December 1962 to 19 March 1963. The transcript ends on 19 March with the panel of three judges denying all motion by

Republicans for a dismissal of the proceedings. As a result of the court’s decision Rolvaag became the state’s governor. The 21 March 1963 order directing that a certificate of election be given to Rolvaag is not part of the transcript or collection.

Dates

  • 1962-1963

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply.

Biographical / Historical

The close election results in the Minnesota gubernatorial election of 1962 between Republican Elmer Andersen and the D.F.L. candidate Karl Rolvaag caused the two political parties to immediately recanvass ballots to gain more votes for their prospective candidates. The State Canvassing Board, in an attempt to determine the election’s winner, asked the Minnesota Supreme Court whether amended returns from county canvassing boards should be accepted.

Acknowledging irregularities, Chief Justice Oscar Knutson on 29 December 1962 declared the court’s decision by ordering the State Canvassing Board to certify Andersen the election’s winner by 142 votes. However, on 3 December 1962 in Freeborn County, Rolvaag filed a contest and requested a statewide recount. Republicans requested the venue of the recount be moved from Freeborn County to the Ramsey County District Court and the Supreme Court ordered the change in venue. The trial began on 10 December 1962 and a physical recount began on 17 December and lasted until 9 January 1963.

Following the recount, the judges examined charges of irregularities in the conduct of the election and problems with the ballots. The court ruled in the judgment over the disputed ballots and gave Rolvaag a ninety-one-vote victory over Andersen. On 21 March 1963 following Republican attempts to have the recount voided, the judges signed an order directing a certificate of election be given to Rolvaag and thereby making him the governor.

Information obtained from: Stinnet, Ronald F. and Charles H. Backstrom. Recount. Washington D.C.: National Publishers, Inc., 1964.

Extent

0.35 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Contested election of Elmer L. Andersen to office of governor of State of Minnesota collection contains a twenty-volume transcript of the proceedings for the hearing held in Ramsey County District Court concerning the contested election. The hearings occurred between December 1962 and March 1963. Following the hearings, Karl F. Rolvaag, a candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Laborite Party (D.F.L.), gained a ninety-one-vote edge, and as a result, Rolvaag replaced Andersen as Minnesota’s Governor.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Republican State Central Committee donated this collection to the Minnesota Historical Society. The collection was then transferred to the Southern Minnesota Historical Center in 1973.

Title
Contested election of Elmer L. Andersen to office of governor of State of Minnesota, 1962-1963.
Status
Completed
Author
Archive's staff
Date
1975-05
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2001-11: Finding aid revised by Jeff A. Jenson.

Repository Details

Part of the Southern Minnesota Historical Center Repository

Contact:
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Memorial Library
PO Box 8419
Mankato MN 56002-8419 US
507-389-1029