Text of letter sent Wednesday by Miami-Dade County elections officials to Secretary of State Katherine Harris in relation to Democratic Party lawsuit:

Dear Secretary Harris,

After a careful review of the written filings, exhibits and presentation of oral argument of the requesting party, the Democratic Party, as well as the Republican Party's response and all other interested persons, the Miami-Dade Canvassing Board exercised its discretion and unanimously voted to conduct a manual recount of three precincts selected by the requesting party comprising 1 percent of the vote as provided for pursuant to Florida Statute 102.166.

The Miami-Dade County Canvassing Board urges you to accept the Supplemental Certificate of Results for the Office of President of the United States. These supplemental votes are a result of the Canvassing Board's decision to hand count three precincts. The manual recount of the three precincts was completed at approximately 8:00 p.m. on November 14, 2000. The Supplemental Certificate of Results will be faxed to the Division of Elections prior to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2000 and an original certification will be sent to the Division of Elections such that it will be received by that office on November 16, 2000.

The Miami-Dade County Canvassing Board believes it is imperative that the votes for the Office of President of the United States contained in the Supplemental Certificate of Results be added to the vote totals of the Boards Certificate of Results dated November 9, 2000. Please contact David C. Leahy, Supervisor of Elections for Miami-Dade County, at 305-375-3150 if you have any questions regarding this request or the Supplemental Certificate of Results.

Sincerely,

Miami-Dade Canvassing Board