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US Attorney General: Counties Should Count Overseas Ballots
US Democratic Attorney General Bob Butterworth November 20 told election officials in Florida counties that they "should count" overseas ballots that bear no postmark.
Butterworth's action was taken after the Florida Supreme Count started a crucial hearing on whether or not hand recounted votes from the November 7 US presidential election should be admitted into the state's final result.
The direction from Butterworth, an ally of Democrat Al Gore, could add votes for Republican George W. Bush, who stretched his lead over Gore in the state from 300 votes to 930 November 19 after he won a greater percentage of overseas ballots than his rival.
No man or woman in military service to this nation should have his or her vote rejected solely due to the absence of a postmark, Butterworth said in the letter to the state's 67 county elections supervisors and other canvassing board members.
Butterworth directed county election officials to count overseas ballots if there is a postmark no later than Election Day or if the ballot is signed and dated no later than the election date.
Bush gained 1,380 votes among overseas absentee ballots compared to 750 for Gore, but the Republican complained some 1,500 overseas ballots were rejected for lack of a postmark and other problems.
The inconclusive US election on Nov. 7 resulted in a recount in Florida, which holds 25 Electoral College votes that would push either candidate above the 270 needed to win the presidency.
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