Dispute over elections continues

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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NOVEMBER 15, 2000

Controversy over elections continues as a certified count in Florida gave the state to Texas Governor George W. Bush on Tuesday and returns in Washington narrowed Senator Slade Gorton's lead over Maria Cantwell.

Responding to a judge's ruling, Katherine Harris, the Florida Secretary of State, upheld a 5PM deadline yesterday on results from the state's 67 counties. The results show Republican George W. Bush leading Democrat Vice President Al Gore by just 300 votes.

The results aren't final yet, though. The state has until midnight Friday to receive overseas absentee ballots; however, the Bush campaign feels they will fall in his favor, as most overseas voters choose Republican.

But there are still counties who have been counting votes by hand. Harris said they have until 2PM today to explain, in writing, why their recounts should be accepted.

Three counties, including Palm Beach, have appealed to the state's Supreme Court, asking the court to guarantee that their revised results are accepted. In a blow to the Gore campaign, Palm Beach late yesterday decided not to do a full manual recount, however.

In New Mexico, the latest vote tally has put the state back in Gore's hands. The margin there is equally slim, with Gore leading by 375 votes in an unofficial count.

Meanwhile, in Washington state, the tallies in the Senate race show Democratic challenger gaining on the Republican Gorton. After some 96,000 absentee ballots were counted, Gorton leads by about 3,000 votes.

One county, King County, has yet to complete its count. The county is a Cantwell stronghold and on Friday afternoon, is expected to finalize its tallies. Cantwell leads Gorton there 415,026 to 276,586.

Another county, Thurston County, still has some 11,000 ballots left to count and is expected to report its final results today. But in contrast to the Presidential candidates, Cantwell and Gorton are taking the close election in stride.