Mr. Dershowitz represented some voters in Palm Beach County who went to court over ballot irregularities.

Charles Dold was elected in January of that year despite ballot irregularities, accusations of bribery, and ballot box stuffing.

But as the debate over allegations offraud and ballot irregularities continues, experts on both sides say the vote damaged Mr. Salinas's struggle to overcome his party's reputation for electoral abuse.

Election officials in other states expressed surprise at Florida's deadline, even as questions were being raised over ballot irregularities.

Accusations of ballot irregularities in Palm Beach County raised the possibility, furthermore, of doubts about the legitimacy of the Florida result.

The debate over the number "overvotes" cuts to the heart of the Gore campaign's argument that ballot irregularities here may have reduced the number of votes that the vice president received.

Complaining of ballot irregularities in past elections, Republican state party officials posted observers at majority-black precincts in Louisville as a means, they said, to insure the integrity of the voter.

In the presidential election in Florida, there has never been a successful legal challenge of the results based on allegations of ballot irregularities, state election law experts said.

But referring to the charges of vast ballot irregularities in the past, she added: "These dangers exist.

Michalchuk later alleged ballot irregularities.