A Gore lead of more than half a million votes nationwide is no small matter. That is more than four times the size of John F. Kennedy's victory margin in 1960 over Richard Nixon. It is nearly as big as Nixon's margin over Hubert Humphrey in 1968. It's the latter figure that's the focus of voter anger. In fact, media-sponsored hand recounts in Florida have already produced startling anomalies.
Spoiled ballots have no legal or constitutional standing.
That intent may have been reflected in the network exit polls. Voters leaving their polling places told interviewers that they had just voted for Gore, not realizing that, in fact, they had cast invalid ballots. The initial exit polls showing Gore carrying Florida may have reflected the voters' true intentions. Reform efforts are focused on balloting procedures. But very little has been heard about revamping the Electoral College.