Two Florida judges dismissed Friday demands that thousands of absentee ballots in two Florida counties be disqualified.
The trial judges ruled that "despite irregularities in the request for absentee ballots, neither the sanctity of the ballots nor the integrity of the election has been compromised and that the election results reflect a full and fair expression of the will of the voters," said Leon County Court spokeswoman Terre Cass.
"Accordingly all relief requested by the plaintiffs has been denied and judgments entered for the defendants," the spokesman added, reading a joint ruling for judges Terry Lewis and Nikki Clark.
Democratic activists in both cases alleged that Republicans illegally tampered with absentee ballot applications in the two counties in which they wanted some 25,000 ballots invalidated.
Lawyers for George W. Bush, who holds a razor-thin, 537-vote margin of victory in Florida, asked that both complaints be dismissed.
The lawyer for the plaintiff in the Martin County case, Ed Stafman, announced that he would file an appeal.
Harry Jacobs, the plaintiff in the Seminole County case, said before the ruling was released that he would also appeal -- TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AFP)
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