Disputed Ballots,Partisan Conflict,and Constitutional Uncertainty

Abstract

For more than 5 weeks after the ballots were cast, the presidential election of 2000 continued. During that period, the extensive national, and even worldwide, focus on disputed Florida ballots elicited a wide variety of reactions, ranging from keen interest to apathy, from disgust and anger to confusion and bewilderment. This article addresses from a historical perspective several of the key issues that emerged during this ordeal. After providing broader historical context by summarizing both the constitutional framework for presidential voting and selected past presidential election disputes, this article focuses on the most significant political, legal, and constitutional aspects of the postelection campaign of 2000.