Recount done, Volusia ponders role in lawsuit

By DAVID KARP

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 16, 2000

DELAND -- The lawyers, political activists and reporters who had hovered around this small Central Florida town, where workers recounted 184,000 votes for president by hand, finally left Wednesday.

The grounds outside the Volusia County administrative building, which had been trampled all week long, were nearly empty. One of the few things remaining was a sagging ballon that said, "I demand a recount."

Armed guards moved the county's ballots from the county building to a vault across the street at Volusia's supervisor of elections office. The county spokesman, who had been operating on little sleep all week, went home at 2 p.m.

A few lawyers for both presidential campaigns appeared at the county building Wednesday morning just to make sure no one pulled any surprises. For the first time, some wore jeans.

Volusia's canvassing board completed its recount of presidential votes Tuesday, giving Vice President Al Gore a net gain of 98 votes. Even with the boost, Gore still remained 300 votes behind Texas Gov. George W. Bush statewide.

Volusia's canvassing board will meet again Friday to count overseas ballots and consider removing the county from a lawsuit, filed in circuit court in Tallahassee on Monday, that sought an extension past Tuesday at 5 p.m. to finish the recount.

A circuit judge denied the request, and Volusia finished its recount six minutes before the deadline.

Volusia's role in the lawsuit might now be moot since Secretary of State Katherine Harris formally accepted Volusia's certified votes on Wednesday. Even so, Palm Beach County, which has not yet done a hand recount of its votes, remains a party to the lawsuit.

"We want to make sure that dropping the appeal will not have any impact on Palm Beach County's legal position," acting county spokesman Gary Davidson said.

Lawyers for Bush's campaign could still challenge Volusia's recount, but did not formally object to the certification.

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