View the 2000 Election Photogallery.
Tuesday, Nov. 7 | Election Day: A tight race was predicted between Texas governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore.
Wednesday, Nov. 8: Gore concedes to Bush , but recants because a recount is in order due to Bush's slim lead. Gore leads in both the popular vote and electoral college.
Thursday, Nov. 9: A hand recount of the approximately 1.8 million ballots cast in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Volusia counties, is requested by Gore.
Friday, Nov. 10: The automatic recount is completed and it is reported that Bush was victorious by 327 votes.
Saturday, Nov. 11: A federal suit is filed to block Gore's request for a hand recount.
Monday, Nov. 13: Katherine Harris, the Florida secretary of state, announces the Nov. 14 deadline for the submission of all state results will not be extended.
Bush's request to halt manual recounts was struck down by a Miami federal judge. Bush appeals the decision.
Tuesday, Nov. 14: Certification of the state's votes postponed until Nov. 15 which will give time to Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Broward counties to prepare an explanation of why they should hand count their ballots.
Wednesday, Nov. 15: It was deemed that no county offered adequate evidence to justify further hand recounts. In a twist of events the Florida Supreme Court denies the request from secretary of state Katherine Harris to stop the hand recounts. This again postpones Certification of the state's votes.
Thursday, Nov. 16: Lawyers for Bush present written arguments to the U.S. federal appeals court in Atlanta to stop manual recounts. Gore's team files a counter motion.
Friday, Nov. 17: Certification of the state's votes is postponed yet again awaiting a Florida Supreme Court verdict on wheather or not include hand recounts.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals denies the motion to stop manual recounts on constitutional grounds.
Saturday, Nov. 18: After a count of the absentee ballots Bush is unofficially ahead of Gore by 930 votes.
Tuesday, Nov. 21: A ruling from the Florida Supreme Court states that the hand counts of ballots in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Broward counties must be included if the counts are completed by Nov. 26.
Sunday, Nov. 26: Florida Secretary of State certifies Bush as the winner in Florida. The tally does not include results from Palm Beach County, which finished its hand recount after the deadline of Nov. 26.
Monday, Nov. 27: Gore contests the Florida results.
Wednesday, Nov. 29: Leon County Circuit Court Judge N. Sanders Sauls orders that all ballots from Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties be sent to Tallahassee for a hearing to determine if the incomplete hand counts should be included in the final vote.
Thursday, Nov. 30: The Florida Legislature reccomends a special session to name the state's 25 electors if the election dispute is not resolved by Dec. 12.
Friday, Dec. 1: The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the Florida Supreme Court acted properly when it forced the Florida secretary of state to accept manual recounts submitted after the legal deadline. http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2000/2000_00_836
The Florida Supreme Court denies Gore's appeal to immediately begin recounting ballots and rejects motion filed by some Palm Beach County citizens who questioned the integrity of the "butterfly ballot."
Monday, Dec. 4: Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls rejects Gore's contest of the election results. The vice president failed to prove that hand recounts would have altered the results.
U.S. Supreme Court asks Florida Supreme Court to explain why it ordered Harris to accept results submitted after the Nov. 14 deadline mandated by state law thereby returning the case to Tallahassee.
Thursday, Dec. 7: Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls ruling appealed by Gore. Bush's lawyers argue at the Supreme Court that the decision should stand.
Friday, Dec. 8: The Florida Supreme Court orders manual recounts in counties with large numbers of undervotes. Bush appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and seeks injunction to stop recounts ordered by the Florida Supreme Court.
Saturday, Dec. 9: The U.S. Supreme Court votes 5–4 to halt the hand recounts and sets a hearing for Dec. 11 meanwhile the Florida Supreme Court hears an appeal on whether absentee ballots in Martin and Seminole counties should be counted.
Tuesday, Dec. 12: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Bush v. Gore 7–2 to reverse the Florida Supreme Court, which had ordered manual recounts in certain counties. http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2000/2000_00_949
Wednesday, Dec. 13: The Florida Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal from Gore asking that absentee ballots from Martin and Seminole counties be thrown out.
In televised speeches, Gore concedes, and Bush accepts the presidency
Monday, Dec. 18: Electoral college representatives cast votes to select president.
Wednesday, Jan. 5: Congress meets to tally electoral college results.
Saturday, Jan. 20: George W. Bush sworn in as 43rd president of the United States.