The 2000 U. S. Presidential Election

Abstract

This article looks at the U.S. presidential election in 2000, perhaps the closest election in American history. The author shows how the hallmark of American government, decentralization, is also apparent in the administration of elections, as state and local governments run elections, even for national offices. The diversity of election administration and the reliance on a weak infrastructure generates considerable potential for disputes in close elections, which is exacerbated by the nature of the Electoral College. In 2000, the College turned a clear but narrow victory for one candidate in the national vote totals into an extraordinarily close, highly disputed election, such that the electoral votes of a single state determined the outcome in favor of the other candidate. The author looks at the consequences of the closeness of that election, noting that the United States still lacks a clear means of resolving disputed elections. The constitutionally decentralized administration of the Electoral College-the administration of which is a state responsibility-makes it difficult to find a national solution. Historical levels of partisan polarization also discourage the search for a solution, as there is insufficient trust to allow for institutional redesign. Contested elections such as the presidential election of 2000 have an impact on the legitimacy of results and, therefore, on the ability of the new administration to establish a clear mandate to govern. As a result of the 2000 election, the nation took steps to improve the uniformity and fairness of voting procedures, and although there has been progress in decreasing the probability of disputes over individual ballots, it has done little to improve the fundamental causes of close elections or the means of resolving them.