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.