Missing votes make Florida election closer than previously thought: Tant narrowly beats Clendenin

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant's victory in the party chairman election ended up being closer than first announced after missing votes were discovered.

The party initially announced Saturday that Tant beat Alan Clendenin 587 to 448. But a ballot from Miami-Dade County wasn't counted when it got stuck to another ballot. The final result ended up being 587 to 507. The ballots are weighted based on the size of the county the voter represents.

After discovering the ballot, party officials twice recounted the vote.

In an odd coincidence, Tant is married to lawyer Barry Richard, who was hired by George W. Bush's campaign to help secure his 537-vote victory during the 2000 presidential recount.