Absentees due Friday, but they may not end it

By LAURA MECKLER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Some questions and answers about the presidential election and the vote recount in Florida:

A: No. Absentee ballots from Floridians living abroad must be postmarked by Election Day but will be tallied as long as they arrive by Friday. It’s unclear how many of these ballots remain to be counted. Traditionally, overseas ballots have favored the Republican candidate.

A: The presidential race is so close that neither Republican George W. Bush nor Democrat Al Gore can win without Florida. And so far, Florida is still too close to call.

To be elected president, a candidate must receive 270 votes in the Electoral College. Bush has won 29 states worth 246 electoral votes, and Gore has won 19 states plus the District of Columbia for 262. Outstanding are Florida, with 25 electoral votes, and New Mexico, with 5. But winning New Mexico won’t give either candidate the presidency, so the result rests on Florida.

A: Gore is ahead nationally by a little more than 216,000 votes. He has 49,260,111 votes vs. Bush’s 49,043,820. But there were enough absentee votes still to be counted in several states that could give Bush the lead. California alone has more than 1 million uncounted ballots; Washington state has about 350,000 and New York about 300,000.

But the popular vote doesn’t matter in determining the winner.

A: Bush was ahead after the first count of the ballots, and remained ahead after a statewide recount, but only by a tiny margin: 288 votes out of nearly 6 million cast, according to an unofficial Associated Press canvas. The secretary of state in Florida said on Friday that Bush was up by 960, but that tally lagged behind the AP count.

A: The statewide tallies were conducted by machine. The Gore campaign requested that ballots in four predominantly Democratic counties — Palm Beach, Volusia, Broward and Miami-Dade counties — be counted again by hand.

A: Yes. It has asked a federal court to stop the hand counts. The court has scheduled a hearing Mtoday to consider the request.

A: Yes. Bush asked for a third machine count in Palm Beach County, though the results were not what the Texas governor had in mind. Gore gained three dozen additional votes.

A: That’s unclear. In Palm Beach County, Democrats and many voters have complained about a confusing, two-page ballot that listed Gore’s name second but required Gore supporters to punch the third hole. Those who punched hole No. 2 actually voted for Pat Buchanan, who got an unusually large number of votes from the county. There were also a large number of ballots with two votes for president that were thrown out; Democrats contend these were marked by confused voters.

Eight lawsuits have been filed complaining about the ballot, and a state court has ruled that the county can’t certify its results until Tuesday, when it considers the matter. Many Gore supporters are calling for the courts to order a new election in Palm Beach County, though there is scant legal precedent to support their case.

A: The presidential electors meet on Dec. 18 to pick a new president, who replaces Bill Clinton on Jan. 20.

Florida has until Dec. 12 to designate its electors. If Florida’s votes are not delivered on Dec. 18, the electoral process will continue without them. That would mean no candidate would have a majority of the 538 electoral votes, sending the decision to the House of Representatives. In the House, each state would have one vote.

Copyright ©2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.