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The Contest Continues

Spanish Translation

By Nelida Gonzalez Cutler

"I won three counts, and I think it's time to get some finality to the process."

Helicopters hovered overhead. TV cameras whirred, and curious crowds snapped pictures as a police motorcade followed a small yellow truck. What was inside the truck that was drawing so much attention? Votes! On the order of a Florida judge, a truck full of ballots was on its way from southern Florida to Tallahassee in the north. Vice President Al Gore had asked the judge to order a recount of those votes. Texas Governor George W. Bush said the time for counting was over. When the truck hit a traffic jam, many thought the image summed up the election perfectly: a race that seemed to be stuck.

A month has passed since Americans voted for President, and the outcome is still being questioned. Florida remains the focus of the fight. Its 25 electoral votes will decide the election. On November 26, Florida secretary of state Katherine Harris "certified," or made official, Florida's vote count. Bush had a slim lead of 537 votes.

But Gore is challenging that count in Florida's courts. His lawyers argue that Harris, a Republican, was wrong to certify the vote because 14,000 disputed ballots had not been recounted by hand. Bush's lawyers argue that the deadline had passed and that the votes had already been counted. Is there any way out of this jam?

"We're having a test of our democratic principles: Will we count all the votes or not?"

Order In the Court
The way out may be in a courtroom. Gore has taken his case to Florida's courts. Bush has asked for a decision from the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court. On Friday the Supreme Court began listening to lawyers from both sides. For the first time ever, audiotapes of Supreme Court proceedings were made available to the public. Now both sides must wait for the court's ruling, which could come as early as this week.

Bush has asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the Florida court broke a federal law when it allowed three heavily Democratic counties to keep counting ballots by hand past a November 14 deadline. Bush's team opposed the recounts.

While the lawyers argue, another important deadline is approaching. All 50 states must choose their electors by December 12. The party whose candidate wins the most votes in a state usually chooses the electors. But Florida's legislature, which has a Republican majority, may decide to go ahead and choose electors if the state's vote is still in question. After the electors vote on December 18, it's up to the U.S. Congress to certify the results.

Preparing To Govern
Both Bush and Gore are making plans to move into the Oval Office. Bush met in Texas last week with retired General Colin Powell. Powell may be Bush's choice for Secretary of State. "When the counting stops, we want to be prepared to lead this nation," said Bush. Gore, too, is looking for future Cabinet members. The U.S. government has set aside $5.3 million to help the President-elect prepare to govern, but neither Bush nor Gore has yet been given any of that money.

Despite all the delays, plans are under way for the Inauguration on January 20. There will be a parade, marching bands, parties and, yes, even a President.

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Who Decides?

FLORIDA COURTS Several important election-related cases are being heard in Florida's courts. Some may reach the highest court in the state: the Florida Supreme Court, which has already made a key ruling on the election.

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE Florida's lawmaking body. It consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Members of the legislature believe it has the power to pass a bill naming Florida's 25 electors.

U.S. SUPREME COURT The highest court in the nation. Its nine Justices decide whether a law or an action violates the U.S. Constitution. The court will decide if the Florida Supreme Court was wrong to allow more time for recounts.

U.S. CONGRESS The nation's lawmaking body. It consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The final Decision as to who will be the next President may end up here.

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