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FREE SHIPPING:This is an exceptional piece of documented American political history from one of the most significant presidential elections in U.S. history.
Provenance
- Originally owned by Sarasota County, Florida.
- Last used during the 2000 Presidential Election.
- Purchased after retirement from service by me, a longtime member of the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee.
- Personally signed to me by Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris at a Manatee County Republican Executive Committee meeting shortly after the 2000 Election was finally Certified.
- In my possession ever since.
My Connection to Katherine Harris
During that period, I served as Membership Chair of the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee and was also active in local political and civic organizations.
Included in the photographs is a picture of me with Katherine Harris taken at a political fundraiser during that same period.
The photograph is included simply to document that we knew one another during that era and to provide additional historical context for the autograph.
About the 2000 Election
The 2000 Presidential Election between George W. Bush and Al Gore became one of the closest elections in American history.
We were in the elections office day after day, counting and recounting votes/ballots with Republican & Democrat Lawyers hanging over our shoulders watching every count.
Florida ultimately decided the presidency.
After weeks of recounts, legal challenges, and national attention focused on punch-card ballots and "hanging chads," & "pregnant chads," the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Bush v. Gore on December 12, 2000.
Florida ultimately certified George W. Bush as the winner by only 537 votes, giving him Florida's electoral votes and the presidency.
The events surrounding machines like this forever changed American elections and led directly to passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which replaced punch-card voting systems across much of the United States.
About the Signature
The Katherine Harris signature on this machine was signed personally TO me shortly after the 2000 Presidential Election at a Manatee County Republican Executive Committee meeting she attended.
I am not a professional autograph authenticator; therefore, I am selling this item based on my personal knowledge, visual of the signature, and ownership history.
Please Note: Vintage historical items often show signs of age, storage, and prior use. Any minor scuffs, scratches, discoloration, or wear contribute to the authenticity and provenance of this artifact.
The machine has been carefully stored in my possession for over two decades and has not been altered or restored.
Questions are welcome. I'm happy to provide additional photographs of any area of the machine or answer questions about its provenance before purchase.
