21.   But the federal high court indicated it will not rule on the constitutionality of the hand recounts of election ballots being conducted in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

22.   But these particular chads were found on the floor where the hand recount was being done.

23.   But they believe a hand recount in Palm Beach County could give Gore enough new votes to win the state without resorting to court challenges.

24.   Democratic efforts to get a hand recount in Miami-Dade County were stymied.

25.   Despite all the talk about the urgency of the hand recount, there was little action in the counties.

26.   Early Wednesday, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris asked the state Supreme Court to block the hand recounts.

27.   Echevarria said he is very close to Penelas, but they had not discussed the hand recount.

28.   Earlier in the day, Republicans contended that Palm Beach County Commissioner Carol Roberts illegally manipulated ballots during a Saturday sample hand recount of ballots from four precincts.

29.   Election officials in both counties vowed to conduct hand recounts of all votes.

30.   For now, no one has access until Leon County Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls, who ruled against a hand recount Monday, gives the go-ahead.