Hand Recounts Denied In Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris announced Wednesday night she would deny attempts by scattered counties to submit hand recounts of ballots to the results of the contested presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

The state's chief elections officer, sharply criticized by Democrats in recent days as a partisan Republican, declared it was ''my duty under Florida law'' to reject requests from several counties to update their totals.

Bush holds a 300-vote lead in the state whose 25 electoral votes will settle the presidential election.

Harris said the state's vote count would be official when overseas absentee ballots are rolled into the totals by midnight Friday.

She noted her decision was subject to an appeal in the courts -- and it seemed likely there would be one.

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