Zenster, the problem with a re-vote is that there are many thousands of people in the area that are not going to vote for the same person they voted for the first time (how many people that voted for Nader, Buchanan, or Browne are going to do so again). That is not a re-vote, that is a runoff and not the way we do the presidency.
The other problem with a re-vote is that the situation is entirely different. All the other results are known. Think about how this changes the psychological dynamics. The people of Palm Beach County already know what everyone else did.
Now, if it was only for a Palm Beach County office, and they “started over,” so to speak, at least there would not be the specter of 100,000,000 other votes hanging over their heads. In effect, a new vote in Florida is not at all equivalent to the votes others cast. That’s why we all vote at the same time on the same day. That’s why they don’t release the results of absentee ballots that come in advance of election day. Heck, most even decry the release of exit polling data on the off chance that it might influence somebody in a different time zone.
100,000,000 previously cast votes would be quite the influence. I’m not a lawyer, but there is no way I can envision a court calling for a re-vote on any level.
And, since the OP is about numbers, the AP (i.e., unofficial) reports a 229 vote difference with one county left.
Okay, what’s taking the people in Seminole so long? Are they stroke counting or what?
Just an idea off the top of my head -
IF a re-vote occurs, would it be possible to allow only those 19,000 or so double-hole-punching people to vote? AND allow them to only vote for one of the two people they selected?
There is no way to determine who those 19,000 were.
I am sure 19,000 Bush and Gore supporters would should up if that were to happen 
The overseas ballots should be interesting. Approximately 5000 coming in from Israel and a lot more from our military boys overseas.
This is going to get uglier before it gets prettier.
Oh, and the answer to that, if you’re still here Dr. J, is no the design was not exactly the same on the Senate Portion. Where on the ballot you were selecting your Senate candidates (left side) more instructions were on the right side–not candidates, instructions.
This ballot would have failed basic usability testing as it was too vague!
Unfortunately the ballot DID pass and WAS used. And we have just over 10 weeks to come to some resolution or we will definitely have a constitutional crisis.
When people say, “Just let the 19,000 double punchers vote again” it drives me nuts. This is an anonymous election process - your name isn’t on the ballot! Besides, even if it was, we should let the 19,000 stupidest voters in the country determine who our president is?
Arghh!
Will we stop calling these people stupid?!?!
It’s very easy to armchair quarterback this when you know what to expect. The facts of this matter is, first, this ballot is new. The last ballot had all of the candidates along one single column and likely al previous ballots. If that’s what you’re trained for, that’s what you expect. They have been trained to expect to see all od their candidates on the left side, and vote accordingly. The fact that there were ‘twice’ as many buttons, may have caused the voters to double punch, to vote for Gore and Lieberman. It was such a subtle design change, that mistakes could be made. And the devil is always in the details. In fact I’d bet that if Al Gore and Pat Buchanan’s position had been transposed, none of this would have happened.
Here are some reasons why the vote could have been messed up (from here)
[ul]
[li]Have poor eyesight (narrow field of view or can read large party name but not smaller number)[/li][li]Left-handed and use right hand to steady the Vote Recorder, covering list on right[/li][li]Are spatially challenged (can’t read maps well) but can count[/li]*Doing things by rote from last time (double column is new for Presidential race)
[li]Cultural issues (don’t understand the arrows)[/li][li]Thought arrows pointed to entire column, not specific hole, and are used to SAT-type tests with separate grid and ordered questions down the column[/li][li]Nervous or confused by new voting style (just moved to warmer climate)[/li][li]In a hurry because voting lines are long and you’re unexpectedly late for an appointment[/li][/ul]
And even if the ballot did pass, it still could be illegal.
I’ve never heard a defense in a case say, “well the bank has already been robbed and the money spent, so it doesn’t matter if he’s convicted or not.”)
[sub]And this is my 1,001st post.[/sub]