772 So. 2d 1220 (Fla. 2000)
The case of Palm Beach County Canvassing Board v. Harris was pivotal in the context of the 2000 United States presidential election, a contentious and closely contested race between George W.
Does the Secretary of State, Katherine Harris, have the authority to ignore manually recounted votes submitted after her imposed certification deadline, and was this deadline reasonable given the factual circumstances?
Under Florida election law, county canvassing boards are tasked with conducting elections and certifying results. The Secretary of State is responsible for enforcing this law, including the establishment and adherence to the legal deadlines for certification.
The Florida Supreme Court held that the Secretary of State's refusal to consider manually recounted votes submitted after her imposed deadline was an abuse of discretion. The court extended the deadline for counties to submit amended returns by six days to ensure a full and fair recount reflective of voter intent.
This decision is significant for law students as it illustrates the balance courts must strike between strict adherence to statutory mandates and the need to uphold democratic principles, and also the role courts play in electoral processes. It underscores the complexities faced by the judiciary in electoral disputes, especially when procedural technicalities clash with substantive democratic rights.