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Only about half the US electorate turned out to vote on 7 November, not realising how crucial each vote would become. They probably also did not question the 'votomatic' machines that many used to cast their votes. It was later revealed that tens of thousands of votes in Florida alone were not counted because the machines did not fully punch a hole next to the preferred candidate's name. Times have moved on from the days that voters simply needed to mark a cross next to their preferred candidates. Now, millions of Americans insert a card into the top of a machine - known as a Votomatic. They then use a pointed instrument or stylus to punch out a tiny rectangle of paper - the infamous chad - from their ballot papers. The Florida result was so close that an automatic recount was required by state law. The Bush lead over Gore was less than 1,000 out of nearly 6 million votes cast. Some counties began manual recounts which started a whole new debate. ![]() There was a supreme irony in the fact that everything hinged on Florida. Florida's State Governor is none other than George Bush's brother, Jeb (pictured right). |
![]() ![]() JFK ![]() The Bushes ![]() Counting |