This is interesting: an unsuccessful lawsuit can mean Gore wins! ---- [snipped] http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/10/politics/10DATE.html # # Dec. 18, the day that presidential electors are to meet in 50 # state capitals and the District of Columbia, may produce a # political crisis if Florida's 25 votes are still in dispute. # But the crisis will not be constitutional, scholars say, for # the Constitution enables a president to be chosen even if a big # state like Florida does not vote. # # The Constitution requires only that a winning candidate have # the votes of "a majority of the whole number of electors # appointed." If Florida's votes are not resolved by then, or if # a legal restraining order bars Gov. Jeb Bush from filing a # certificate listing Florida's electors, then Mr. Gore has enough # votes from other states, if current vote totals stand and if # his electors keep their pledges, to reach a majority of the 513 # electors actually appointed. # # In either of those cases, or if either Mr. Gore or Mr. Bush gets # Florida's votes, the House of Representatives would have no role # in choosing a president, other than to participate in a Jan. # 6 ceremonial counting of the votes in a joint session with the # Senate.