CNN's Mike Boettcher on Florida’s legislature

(CNN) – A joint committee from the Florida legislature met November 28 to discuss whether to call a special session to award Florida's 25 presidential electors. The legislators fear that the extended legal battle over the state’s ballot count may jeopardize its ability to select electors for the Electoral College by the December 12 deadline. Numerous legal motions concerning the contested election are being addressed in the state’s courts, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson addressed a rally outside the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee November 28 to protest alleged voting irregularities in the state.

Mike Boettcher is a CNN national correspondent based at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Mike Boettcher, and welcome.

Mike Boettcher: Hello from Tallahassee, where we are still camped out after three weeks of uncertainty.

Chat Moderator: Please bring us up-to-date on the news in Tallahassee.

Mike Boettcher: Well, I am covering the newest actors on the stage -- the Florida state legislature -- which has begun hearings today that will likely lead to the Florida legislature being called into special session. In that session, they would have the ability, they believe, to select the electors from Florida for Governor Bush.

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Chat Moderator: How often are special sessions called?

Mike Boettcher: A special session is a very rare thing. In this instance, they believe they must call it or Florida will lose its voice in the Electoral College. Legislative Republicans, who are in the majority here, believe the election contest puts their 25 electoral votes in jeopardy if they do not step in and assign those electors.

Question from Hugo: Do you sense the growing frustration in the state capitol?

Mike Boettcher: Well, frustration on both sides. Frustration on the Republican side because the courts have taken away their legislative authority. Frustration on the Democrat side from legislators who believe the Republicans are trying to steal the election.

Question from Tennesseevoter: How does the Florida legislature believe their role is defined by the Constitution of the United States?

Mike Boettcher: In Article 2 of the Constitution, they believe it is clearly laid out that the selection of presidential electors is solely in the hands of the state legislature.

Question from Lobstah: Can't the Florida vote be tossed out if the Congress decides to?

Mike Boettcher: Yes. If Congress believes that the slate of electors presented to them does not accurately reflect the will of the people in that state, they can eliminate that slate of electors.

Question from Veep1: The Florida statute that the legislature enacted provides for an election contest. For them to step in before December 12 nullifies the right to contest, doesn't it?

Mike Boettcher: If they wait until December 12, they believe they nullify their right to act because it takes several days for legislation to be passed. That is why they believe they need to convene the legislature shortly.

Question from Mike: Does the legislature in Florida truly believe they can affect the outcome of these proceedings?

Mike Boettcher: They believe they are only affirming the already certified results from Florida.

Question from Mike: What legal ramifications does the legislature face by doing this?

Mike Boettcher: They believe none because they believe their power to do this derives directly from the Constitution, as written in Article 2. On a practical level, there are some in the legislature who believe the Florida Supreme Court might try to intervene and overturn what they decide. But they believe that is unconstitutional.

Question from Mariah: Mr. Boettcher, have you witnessed any unruly behavior by demonstrators? And how much of a presence has Jesse Jackson made for himself in Tallahassee?

Mike Boettcher: No, I have witnessed no unruly demonstrations from either side in Tallahassee. In the context of this election, Jesse Jackson made his first presence today, leading a prayer vigil in front of the capitol.

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us?

Mike Boettcher: Keep your seatbelts fastened because this election crisis keeps speeding down the highway to some unknown destination.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today.

Mike Boettcher: Goodbye and thank you for your great questions. We will try to keep you informed about what the legislature plans to do here.

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