Three Florida counties are continuing to hand count votes in the presidential election while waiting for a ruling by the state Supreme Court which will show whether Vice-President Al Gore or Governor George Bush is most likely to be the next President.
The court spokesman, Mr Craig Waters, said yesterday no time has been set for issuing the ruling. "We have no timetable or schedule for something coming out of the court."
Mr Gore's lawyers have asked the court to include the results of the hand counts in the final Florida result. Mr Bush's legal team argued the result should be based on the 930-vote lead he has following the state-wide machine recount and the tally of overseas ballots.
Whichever candidate wins in Florida with its 25 electoral college votes is virtually certain to win the election as it would mean reaching the 270 majority of electoral votes required to be declared president.
Recent polls show the American public does not yet regard the two-week delay in declaring the winner as a serious crisis but is beginning to lose patience. A CBS News poll showed 50 per cent were willing to wait a while longer for the result but 45 per cent want a result now as they settle in for the Thanksgiving holiday later this week.
The ruling of the seven judges of the Florida Supreme Court will be a crucial factor in the resolution of the election impasse which has Mr Gore leading in the popular vote and in the electoral college vote but still needing Florida to ensure victory.
The ruling could come at any time as the judges deliberate following the hearing of oral arguments from both sides on Monday.
The judges closely questioned the rival legal teams on their presentations but without giving any clues on their likely decision.
There is concern in the Gore campaign the recounts under way in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are not netting him the necessary gains to overtake Mr Bush's existing lead of 930 votes. Yesterday morning Mr Gore was reported to have had a net gain of under 200 votes in these counties which are seen as heavily Democratic.
But observers point out these modest gains do not take account of the disputed ballots which are piling up in their thousands and which could yet give Florida to Mr Gore. These ballots which are not punched through but have an indent or "dimple", are set aside by the counters for a ruling by the county canvassing board.
The three-member board consisting of two Democratic officials and one Republican then gives its verdict on whether these ballots can be included.
The Bush campaign has been loudly protesting against ballots which have not had a hole punched being included, saying it is impossible to divine the real intention of the voter from an indentation. The Gore camp hopes many of these ballots will show marks next to Mr Gore's name and can be accepted as a vote for him.
The Supreme Court has been asked by the Gore lawyers to give guidance to the counties on this matter. But a Bush attorney warned the court on Monday against venturing into the "great universe of chad". Chads are the tiny pieces of paper sometimes left hanging from a ballot paper. Both legal teams expressed satisfaction with how the court dealt with their presentations on Monday but without making any predictions. Each side had been given one hour to make their case and be questioned by the judges.
Chief Justice Charles Wells and some of his colleagues were clearly concerned that undue delay in finishing the count in Florida could mean the state would not be able to appoint its 25 electors by December 12th and so would have no input into the electoral college vote on December 18th.
Under Florida law, a candidate has the right to contest the result of an election once it is officially certified so the judges wondered how a prolonged recount would leave time for an objection.