Turns out a bunch of people checked two boxes: First, they voted for Gore.
Then, they checked the "write-in" box and voted for Gore. Thus, there is
yet another county thrown into the mix.
JDG
http://orlandosentinel.com/automagic/news/2000-11-16/ASECelgadsden1111600.html
GOP may dispute Gadsden
recount
By Scott Maxwell
of the Sentinel Staff
Published in The Orlando Sentinel on November 16, 2000
"What all these folks need to do is get out of
Gadsden."
-- Denny Hutchinson
Elections supervisor
QUINCY -- If Republican George W. Bush is still ahead
when the Florida recounts are complete, then Gadsden
County may be no more than a footnote in political
history. But if Democrat Al Gore takes the lead, then this
small, poor county in Florida`s Panhandle may play a
pivotal role in deciding the next president.
That`s because Republican lawyers are quietly mounting
a legal challenge to a recount there last week that netted
Gore 153 votes. If Gore pulls ahead, the GOP may try to
take back those votes, arguing that they were added
illegally and in a somewhat secretive manner.
Publicly, Republican lawyers aren`t saying much about
their legal plans. They have said simply that they objected
to a canvassing meeting last week in which Gadsden
elections officials double-checked ballots that had been
rejected by machine. If voters checked the box next to
Gore and also wrote in Gore`s name in the "write-in" box,
the board accepted the vote. They did the same for Bush
votes. But Gore came out 153 votes ahead.
Counties all over the state, including Orange, have done
the same thing. But in few other counties did the recheck
help out Gore so much. And Republicans say Gadsden
officials overstepped their authority in checking the
double-marked ballots.
The GOP also objected, saying it was allowed to watch
the canvassing board but couldn`t hear what the elections
officials were saying about each ballot.
Still, the GOP has not filed a lawsuit -- only placed its
objection on record with Gadsden officials.
Democrats, though, say it is obvious what Republicans
are trying to do. "They are trying to lay the groundwork
for a lawsuit," said Bob Giolito, an attorney for the
Democrats` recount committee.
Democrats think that if Bush is declared the winner,
Republicans won`t say another word about this poor and
mostly black county. But if Gore takes the lead,
Democrats think, Republicans will point to Gadsden as the
poster child of Florida`s political problems and file a
lawsuit saying so.
News of the Gadsden situation hit residents of Quincy,
the county seat, by surprise. Quincy, after all, is 30 miles
west of Tallahassee and more closely resembles
Mayberry.
"Who`d a thought that anyone would care about us?" said
Quincy resident James Evans, while crossing South
Madison Street.
Elections Supervisor Denny Hutchinson, who answers all
of the phone calls in his tiny office, had stronger words
for the news media crowd gathering in his lobby. "What
all these folks need to do is get out of Gadsden," he said.
Ken Sukhia, an attorney for Bush`s campaign, said he
might do just that. Sukhia, a former U.S. attorney who
was appointed by President George Bush, said that the
GOP isn`t closing the door to any possibilities.
The situation may leave Americans wondering when all
of the lawsuits may end. The answer: No time soon.
Florida law allows parties to file lawsuits that contest
elections for up to 10 days after the last canvassing board
certifies its results. That means, at the earliest, the
lawsuit
deadline will expire Nov. 24. But if Palm Beach or other
counties don`t certify their results until this weekend or
next week, the deadline for lawsuits could stretch into
December.
In other words, the presidential election could be certified
by the secretary of state, and one of the candidates may
be declared a winner. But the state`s statutes will still
allow anyone who wants to file a lawsuit to challenge the
election.
Even Sukhia conceded: "It`s pretty crazy."
Posted Nov 15 2000 10:20PM
_______________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"Now is not the Time for Third Chances,
It is a Time for New Beginnings."
- George W. Bush 8/3/00
******************VOTE BUSH / CHENEY 2000 *******************
