Florida count chief misses a vote

The eyes of a nation were fixed on Harris in 2000

The Florida official who presided over the election which handed George W Bush his presidential victory in 2000 has had a ballot of her own rejected.

Republican Congresswoman Katherine Harris admitted she forgot to sign her absentee ballot form in a local election.

True, Longboat Key is electing a new councillor, not the US president, but she said she felt "terrible".

"I know how important voting is," the former Florida state secretary added.

She said she had handed the ballot-paper to her husband as she rushed to catch a flight to Washington DC.

Because she usually votes in person at elections, she forgot to validate the absentee ballot and was disqualified, AP news agency reports.

As well as electing a new local representative, voters in the Longboat Key poll on Sunday are deciding on the fate of a proposed new community centre and a suggestion to limit the term of councillors.

As secretary of state, Ms Harris oversaw the disputed count which gave Mr Bush a crucial 537-vote state-wide victory over Al Gore.