Steven Foster

Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court on December 12, 2000, that settled a recount dispute in Florida's 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. On December 8, 2000, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a statewide recount of all undervotes, over 61,000 ballots that the vote tabulation machines had missed. The Bush campaign immediately asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the decision and halt the recount. On December 9, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari and issued the stay. The case was argued before the Court on December 11. On December 12 the Court held, in a 5–4 per curiam decision, that no constitutional recount could be conducted in the remaining time, which was short because the Florida legislature wanted to take advantage of the federal "safe harbor" for its electors to be free from challenge.