Republicans contemplate Romney loss as Florida tallies votes - US politics live They're still counting votes in Florida, my colleague Chris McGreal reports. Obama's ahead. The question is whether the result will fall within the margin that automatically requires a recount. The take-home point in any case, Chris writes, is that "Florida seems incapable of running a straightforward election": The count resumes in Florida's Miami/Dade as Obama's lead in the state hovers around the percentage to automatically kick in a recount. Right now, Obama is ahead by about 46,000 votes or 0.6% on what looks to be a record turnout. If the majority falls to 0.5%, a recount is required. But Florida will be saved from that pointless exercise - given that it's not 2000 and the outcome of the presidential election does not hang in the balance - if, as expected, the majority of the Miami/Dade votes go the president's way. A result is expected Wednesday afternoon. That will still leave tens of thousands of overseas absentee votes to be returned to Florida and counted next week. In 2008, there were 95,000 such votes, many from military personnel. They could theoretically pull the outcome back into recount territory, if anyone is still paying attention at that point. What is not likely to be allowed to slip under the radar is how, once again, Florida seems incapable of running a straightforward election. Critics contend that the huge lines in Miami-Dade in particular were the result of Republican machinations to discourage Democrats from voting. Florida's Republican legislature had been throwing up obstacles with voter ID laws and effectively preventing civic groups from registering voters, both of which were struck down by federal courts. But still the organisation of the election leaves a lingering suspicion of manipulation. Why was it that the huge lines were in mostly Democratic areas of Miami-Dade and Orange County? Voters said there were far fewer ballot machines than usual. Some people did not get to vote until 1am, after standing in line for more than six hours in at least 80 precincts. Adding to the delays were the longest ballots in Florida's history - that way because the Republicans added lengthy, complicated constitutional amendments. "Our governor and right wingers intentionally made it difficult to vote," Florida Congresswoman Kathy Castor told me. We have to change that. Chris McGreal