Opinion ID: 1833335
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Manual Recounts

Text: In light of the closeness of the election, the Florida Democratic Executive Committee, on Thursday, November 9, requested that manual recounts be conducted in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Volusia Counties. The county canvassing boards (Boards) of these counties conducted sample manual recounts of at least one percent of the ballots cast. Several of the Boards determined that the manual recounts showed an error in the vote tabulation which could affect the outcome of the election, and the Boards voted to conduct countywide manual recounts. See § 102.166(5), Fla. Stat. (2000). Because the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board was concerned that the recounts would not be completed prior to the seven-day deadline set forth in sections 102.111 and 102.112, Florida Statutes (2000), the Board sought an advisory opinion from the Division. The Division issued Advisory Opinion DE 00-10 wherein the Division advised the Board that absent unforeseen circumstances the county's returns must be received by 5 p.m. on the seventh day following the election in order to be included in the certification of statewide results. Relying on this advisory opinion, the Florida Secretary of State (Secretary) on Monday, November 13, issued a statement wherein she announced that she would ignore returns of manual recounts received by the Florida Department of State (Department) after 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 14. The Volusia County Canvassing Board on Monday, November 13, filed suit in circuit court in Leon County, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief; the candidates and the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board were allowed to intervene.