WASHINGTON - Election officials of the US state of Florida on Thursday ordered a hand recount of votes in the tight Senate race between incumbent Democratic US Senator Bill Nelson and his Republican opponent Rick Scott.

The process was triggered because Florida law requires a hand recount when the leading candidate's margin is 0.25 or less. Scott, governor of the Sunshine State, led by about 12,600 votes, or 0.15 percent of the more than 8 million votes cast following a machine recount.

Florida counties face a deadline of noon E.T. on Sunday to submit their election results by hand recount.

Scott has declared victory in the race and on Thursday urged the state to move on.

Meanwhile, the results of the machine recount in the Florida gubernatorial race showed that Ron DeSantis, the conservative ally of US President Donald Trump, maintains a lead over Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum of 0.41 percent.

Overall control of the US Senate is not at stake in the Florida race but the seat would help Republicans expand their narrow lead in the chamber as they lost control of the House for first time in eight years during last week's midterm elections.

But both the Senate and governor's races were closely watched as Florida is traditionally a key swing state in US presidential elections.