April 2025 Auction Ends Thursday, April 24th, 5pm Pacific
Florida voting machine used in Collier County in the 2000 Presidential election, complete with the infamous ''hanging chad'' ballots. Portable voting machine is transported in a briefcase which contains all the pieces for assembly, including aluminum legs and blinders to protect the voter's anonymity. The voter's information card is permanently affixed within, showing the candidates of George W. Bush, Al Gore, Ralph Nader and others. A book of approximately 50 punch-card ballots is also present, where one can see the potential problem of ''hanging chads'' that caused chaos during Florida's manual recount. Complete with cord that powers the still working fluorescent light. Right side blinder has broken off but is still present, otherwise very good condition.
Florida was the eye of the hurricane in the 2000 Presidential election, with the vote so close that a recount was ordered and then halted by the U.S. Supreme Court via Bush v. Gore, thereby making George W. Bush President, who secured by the state by a mere 537 votes. The use of butterfly and punch-card ballots resulting in hanging chads were criticized as poorly designed features leading to the problems with voting in the state.
Florida Voting Machine for the 2000 Presidential Election -- Includes Stack of ''Hanging Chad'' Ballots
Click above for larger image.