Judge Rules against Miller in Alaska Senate Race

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A judge has ruled against Republican Joe Miller's lawsuit challenging how Alaska counted write-in votes for rival Lisa Murkowski in their U.S. Senate race.

Judge William Carey's ruling Friday is virtually certain to be appealed to the state Supreme Court. The judge said his decision wouldn't take effect until Tuesday to give Miller time to appeal.

Miller's attorney had asked Carey to strictly enforce a state law calling for write-in ballots to have the oval filled in, and either the candidate's last name or the name as it appears on the declaration of candidacy written in.

Murkowski ran an unprecedented write-in campaign after losing the GOP primary to the tea party favorite.

Unofficial results show she won. But Miller complained that the state shouldn't have used discretion in determining voter intent in tallying ballots for Murkowski.