布什诉戈尔案件事实.docx

布什诉戈尔案件事实.docx

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布什诉戈尔案件事实

OnNovember8,2000,thedayfollowingthePresidentialelection,theFloridaDivisionofElectionsreportedthatpetitioner,GovernorBush,hadreceived2,909,135votes,andrespondent,VicePresidentGore,hadreceived2,907,351votes,amarginof1,784forGovernorBush.BecauseGovernorBush'smarginofvictorywaslessthan"one-halfofapercent...ofthevotescast,"anautomaticmachinerecountwasconductedunder§102.141（4）oftheelectioncode,theresultsofwhichshowedGovernorBushstillwinningtheracebutbyadiminishedmargin.VicePresidentGorethensoughtmanualrecountsinVolusia,PalmBeach,Broward,andMiami-DadeCounties,pursuanttoFlorida'selectionprotestprovisions.Fla.Stat.§102.166（2000）.AdisputearoseconcerningthedeadlineforlocalcountycanvassingboardstosubmittheirreturnstotheSecretaryofState（Secretary）.TheSecretarydeclinedtowaivetheNovember14deadlineimposedbystatute.§§102.111,102.112.TheFloridaSupremeCourt,however,setthedeadlineatNovember26.WegrantedcertiorariandvacatedtheFloridaSupremeCourt'sdecision,findingconsiderableuncertaintyastothegroundsonwhichitwasbased.BushI,ante,at___-___（slip.op.,at6-7）.OnDecember11,theFloridaSupremeCourtissuedadecisiononremandreinstatingthatdate.___So.2d___,___（slipop.at30-31）.

OnNovember26,theFloridaElectionsCanvassingCommissioncertifiedtheresultsoftheelectionanddeclaredGovernorBushthewinnerofFlorida's25electoralvotes.OnNovember27,VicePresidentGore,pursuanttoFlorida'scontestprovisions,filedacomplaintinLeonCountyCircuitCourtcontestingthecertification.Fla.Stat.§102.168（2000）.Hesoughtreliefpursuantto§102.168（3）（c）,whichprovidesthat"[r]eceiptofanumberofillegalvotesorrejectionofanumberoflegalvotessufficienttochangeorplaceindoubttheresultoftheelection"shallbegroundsforacontest.TheCircuitCourtdeniedrelief,statingthatVicePresidentGorefailedtomeethisburdenofproof.HeappealedtotheFirstDistrictCourtofAppeal,whichcertifiedthemattertotheFloridaSupremeCourt.

Acceptingjurisdiction,theFloridaSupremeCourtaffirmedinpartandreversedinpart.Gorev.Harris,___So.2d.____（2000）.ThecourtheldthattheCircuitCourthadbeencorrecttorejectVicePresidentGore'schallengetotheresultscertifiedinNassauCountyandhischallengetothePalmBeachCountyCanvassingBoard'sdeterminationthat3,300ballotscastinthatcountywerenot,inthestatutoryphrase,"legalvotes."

TheSupremeCourtheldthatVicePresidentGorehadsatisfiedhisburdenofproofunder§102.168（3）（c）withrespecttohischallengetoMiami-DadeCounty'sfailuretotabulate,bymanualcount,9,000ballotsonwhichthemachineshadfailedtodetectavoteforPresident（"undervotes"）.___So.2d.,at___（slip.op.,at22-23）.Notingtheclosenessoftheelection,theCourtexplainedthat"[o]nthisrecord,therecanbenoquestionthattherearelegalvoteswithinthe9,000uncountedvotessufficienttoplacetheresultsofthiselectionindoubt."Id.,at___（slip.op.,at35）.A"legalvote,"asdeterminedbytheSupremeCourt,is"oneinwhichthereisa'clearindicationoftheintentofthevoter.'"Id.,at____（slipop.,at25）.Thecourtthereforeorderedahandrecountofthe9,000ballotsinMiami-DadeCounty.Observingthatthecontestprovisionsvestbroaddiscretioninthecircuitjudgeto"provideanyreliefappropriateundersuchcircumstances,"Fla.Stat.§102.168（8）（2000）,theSupremeCourtfurtherheldthattheCircuitCourtcouldorder"theSupervisorofElectionsandtheCanvassingBoards,aswellasthenecessarypublicofficials,inallcountiesthathavenotconductedamanualrecountortabulationoftheundervotes...todosoforthwith,saidtabulationtotakeplaceintheindividualcountieswheretheballotsarelocated."____So.2d,at____（slip.op.,at38）.

TheSupremeCourtalsodeterminedthatbothPalmBeachCountyandMiami-DadeCounty,intheirearliermanualrecounts,hadidentifiedanetgainof215and168legalvotesforVicePresidentGore.Id.,at___（slip.op.,at33-34）.RejectingtheCircuitCourt'sconclusionthatPalmBeachCountylackedtheauthoritytoincludethe215netvotessubmittedpasttheNovember26deadline,theSupremeCourtexplainedthatthedeadlinewasnotintendedtoexcludevotesidentifiedafterthatdatethroughongoingmanualrecounts.AstoMiami-DadeCounty,theCourtconcludedthatalthoughthe168votesidentifiedweretheresultofapartialrecount,theywere"legalvotes[that]couldchangetheoutcomeoftheelection."Id.,at（slipop.,at34）.TheSupremeCourtthereforedirectedtheCircuitCourttoincludethosetotalsinthecertifiedresults,subjecttoresolutionoftheactualvotetotalfromtheMiami-Dadeparti