While Bush's victory is not in jeopardy, Democrats may force the two chambers to interrupt their meeting and convene separately to consider a challenge to Ohio's 20 votes, which put Bush over the top. It would be only the second time since 1877 that such separate meetings were held to consider electoral votes.

"We have found numerous, serious election irregularities in the Ohio presidential election," said a report issued Wednesday by Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

Should Conyers and other House Democrats find a senator to co-sign their challenge, the House and Senate would be required by law to meet separately for up to two hours to consider it. Lawmakers are allowed to speak for no more than five minutes each...

...Even so, the effort seems certain to leave Bush's victory intact because both Republican-run chambers would have to uphold the challenge for Ohio's votes to be invalidated...

...Many Democrats oppose challenging the Ohio vote, worrying it would do little but antagonize voters who consider the election over. The numbers are also politically daunting: Bush won an Ohio recount by over 118,000 votes, and won nationally by more than 3 million...