Overview

Katherine Harris served as Florida's Secretary of State during the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore; one of the most consequential and contested elections in American history. In her dual role as Florida's chief elections official and co-chair of the Bush campaign in Florida; Harris made critical decisions that determined the outcome of the presidential race. She certified Bush's 537-vote victory in Florida on November 26, 2000; before the U.S. Supreme Court halted the recount in Bush v. Gore. Prior to the election; Harris's office contracted Database Technologies (later ChoicePoint) to purge the voter rolls of alleged felons. The purge list wrongly removed an estimated 12,000-57,000 eligible voters; disproportionately African American; from the rolls. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that African American voters in Florida were ten times more likely than white voters to have their ballots rejected. Harris's refusal to extend the manual recount deadline; combined with the felon purge; and her simultaneous role as Bush campaign co-chair; made her a central figure in one of the most controversial elections in democratic history.

Key Affiliations

Controversies & Concerns

Related Investigations (3)

Known Associates & Connections

Sources & Documentation

3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports