Presidential Election Trials: 2000 - Florida Supreme Court Rules

Tuesday, November 21

Ruling unanimously, the seven Florida justices decided hand counts must be included in final voting results unless they were "submitted so late that their inclusion will preclude Florida's voters from participating fully in the federal electoral process." They set 5:00 P.M. Sunday, November 26, for the secretary of state's certification of the winner of Florida's electoral college votes.

Wednesday, November 22

In Washington, Bush attorneys filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Their brief argued that the Florida Supreme Court had rewritten state election statutes following the election.

Back in Florida, Miami-Dade County, insisting that it could not complete its recount by the November 26 deadline, stopped counting.

Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day)

The Gore campaign asked the Florida Supreme Court to order Miami-Dade to keep counting. The court refused.

Sunday, November 26

At 5:00 P.M., Florida Secretary of State Harris officially certified that Bush had won Florida by 537 votes.

Monday, November 27

The Gore campaign, before Leon County Circuit Court judge N. Sanders Sauls, filed a request for immediate hand recounts in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

Tuesday, November 28

Judge Sauls turned down the Gore request but said he would hold a hearing.

Wednesday, November 29

The Gore team asked the Florida Supreme Court to order the hand recount to proceed while Judge Sauls's hearing was pending.