The Battle for Florida combines an analysis of the disputed 2000 presidential election with a broad array of supporting materials, including legal documents and transcripts, government reports, state and federal legislation, and more. DeHaven-Smith addresses troubling questions about American democracy raised by the election in Florida and argues that the true outcome of the election could have been determined despite the controversy, if the laws of the state had been interpreted reasonably and administered in good faith. The derailing of the election system by partisan intrigue is only one of several failures he examines in this concise, readable guide to the events and documents of the 2000 controversy. Drawing on classical political philosophy and modern democratic theory, deHaven-Smith traces the election breakdown to partisanship in the system of election administration, flaws in the U.S. Constitution, and weaknesses in the nation's civic culture.
His account of the election and its aftermath provides a closely documented analysis of what happened in Florida and a discussion of critical importance to public officials, election activists, scholars of the presidency, and students of African-American and minority politics.