Future election timeline

A look at the dates and deadlines facing Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore in their ongoing race for the White House.

Nov. 11: Volusia County, Fla., begins a hand count of 184,018 ballots. Palm Beach County, Fla., election officials begin a recount ballots in three precincts. If there is a change in the count, they will then decide whether to do a recount by hand of the entire county.

Nov. 13: Broward County, Fla., uses a hand count to re-tally votes in three precincts. If there is a change, they also will consider a full hand recount.

Nov. 14: Miami-Dade county election officials in Florida meet to discuss a hand recount.

Nov. 16 or 17, depending on the county: In Iowa, the deadline for Texas Gov. George W. Bush to request a recount by personally writing to each of Iowa's 99 county auditors by 5 p.m. Bush lost by about 5,000 votes.

Nov. 17: All overseas Florida ballots must be received by the Florida secretary of state.

Mid- to late-November: Bush can request a recount in Wisconsin, where he lost by about 6,000 votes. The state is still waiting for its 72 counties to send in their final vote tallies. Bush would have until 5 p.m. on the third business day after the last one is turned in to request a challenge.

Nov. 27: Official results from Oregon's 36 counties must be delivered to the state elections office. A recount may be required by a state law if the margin between Bush and Gore is less than one-fifth of 1 percent, or about 2,800 votes.

Nov. 28: In New Mexico, the state canvassing board, including the governor, secretary of state and chief justice of the state Supreme Court, meets to certify the election returns.

First week of December: Possible start of an Oregon recount, which must be done by hand and could take at least three days.

Dec. 18: Electoral College representatives meet, usually in the 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia, to vote for the president.

Jan. 6: Tentative date for the a joint session of Congress to meet and count the Electoral College votes. The Senate has passed a resolution to change the date to from Jan 6, a Saturday, to Jan. 5, a Friday. House members are considering a measure to do the same.

Jan. 8: In New Mexico, the deadline for the losing candidate to contest an election by filing a lawsuit in state district court, assuming the state is able to issue the certificate of election to the successful candidate on time.

Jan. 20: Inauguration Day.

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