What was the outcome of the Bush v. Gore case in 2000?

• A. It mandated a recount of Florida ballots
• B. It allowed for the financing of campaign ads without limits
• C. It overturned a state court ruling regarding ballot recounts
• D. It established that political speech included monetary donations

Answer: (C)

The outcome of the Bush v. Gore case in 2000 was significant in determining the result of the presidential election and focused specifically on the issue of ballot recounts in Florida. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately decided to halt the manual recount that the Florida Supreme Court had ordered, asserting that the recount process violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court found that the inconsistent standards applied across different counties for the recount created a situation where votes were not being counted uniformly, thus impacting the fairness and integrity of the election process.

This ruling effectively reaffirmed the initial results that had George W. Bush winning Florida’s electoral votes, which played a critical role in his securing the presidency. The decision was noted for its immediate impact on election law, particularly concerning the handling of ballots and the standards for recounting votes, illustrating the Court's role in resolving contentious election disputes.