Duval County, for example, has 100 overseas absentee ballots without a postmark, so they will be rejected because Florida law requires these ballots have a postmark, says Richard Carlberg, assistant elections supervisor. But in Bay County, which has 83 pending overseas ballots, election supervisor Melanie Williams-Boyd says she has one ballot without a postmark, but which her office stamped on Nov. 8 when it came in. It will be up to the canvassing board to decide. Someone could have put the date on while it was being mailed. Finally, someone in the elections' office could have written a date.
Every vote counts.
Others analysts point to the fact that in 1996, Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole won the overseas vote with 54 percent. But Democrats say Florida voters living in Israel may tip the balance to Gore this year. But the methodology of these surveys is murky, ballots are still coming in, and some ultimately may be challenged. The counties are expected to send their results to the secretary of state by noon today to be certified. Carlberg does not anticipate doing a hand count of the overseas absentee ballots in Duval County but anything can happen.