What If Al Gore Had Won in Florida in 2000?
The Closely Contested Election and Voter Rights
Imagine a scenario where Al Gore would have been declared the winner of Florida in the 2000 election. The numbers at that time were extremely close; had Florida's voters from the past been able to vote freely under current laws, the outcome might have been different. In 2000, felons in Florida were permanently barred from voting. Today, after serving their sentence and paying fines, they can once again participate in the electoral process. This highlights the historical discrepancy in voter rights, often controlled by wealthy politicians to disenfranchise poor people of color, much like the poll taxes and other Jim Crow-era laws that were later banned.
The Safeguarding of Election Results
At the time, Al Gore was behind on December 12, the Safe Harbor Date, which is the deadline for states to certify their election results. Once this date passes, overturning an election becomes extremely difficult. After the Electoral Collage met six days later, the official electors determined the president. Congress then certified the election on January 6, 2001. Once this step is completed, the election outcome is almost impossible to reverse. This is why Trump supporters were pushing so hard for an overturn on January 6, 2021.
Even a recount conducted between January 20, 2001, and January 20, 2005, would not have changed the outcome, and by January 20, 2005, George W. Bush had already won the 2004 election. The whole controversy from 2000 became a historical footnote following Bush's presidency.
The Case of Validated Audits
It is important to note that even if Al Gore had won, the New York Times and seven other news organizations conducted well-financed audits of the votes in Florida, and their conclusions were clear: Al Gore did not win the state. This verification process involved careful examination by independent parties, ensuring the accuracy of the election results.
Another perspective is that if something similar had happened in sports, such as a player crossing the goal line but the referees not calling it, the game would still proceed and the decision made at that moment would stand as the final score. Similarly, while the historical context of the 2000 election remains significant, the conviction and gentlemanly behavior of Al Gore in conceding the election to George W. Bush without causing further legal disputes remains a testament to his leadership and grace.
In conclusion, while the hypothetical scenario of Al Gore winning in Florida in 2000 is interesting, the actual election results and the principles of the electoral process seen through the audits and the pivotal role grace and leadership played in the subsequent political landscape should not be ignored.