Every four years, the United States holds an election to find a new president to rule the country. Elections are important to Americans because they can change the future of many generations. In 2000 the two candidates were: George W. Bush for the Republican Party and Al Gore, former vice president, for the Democratic Party. This presidential election has been one of the most suspenseful and unclear presidential elections in more than a century. To make it even worse than it already was, the media prematurely declared that Al Gore was the winner, then, a few hours later, that George Bush had won, and then retracted both statements before the election had even taken place. finished. (“The Stolen Presidential Election.”) The 2000 election would become the first election since 1888 in which there was a difference between the popular vote and the electoral vote: Vice President Al Gore led Governor George W. Bush by just over 500,000 votes. while Governor George W. Bush leads Vice President Al Gore in the electoral college by four votes (271-267). (“Bush v. Gore (2000).”) For weeks after the polls closed on November 7, the American public remained uncertain about who had won the presidency. The narrow margins of the election and the bitter words about the results brought this dispute to the Supreme Court, respectively titled Bush v Gore; which was publicized with every man's move, motivated voters to become more educated in the political process. After losing Florida, a state that had enough electoral votes to determine the election, and the election itself by only about 1000 votes, Al Gore requested that there be a formal recount in the Circuit Court of Florida. This was allowed due to Florida state law providing for an automatic...... middle of paper...... presidential election. "The Stolen Presidential Election. Michael Parenti, ndWeb. April 29, 2014.." TIME Magazine - US Edition - November 20, 2000 vol. 156 n. 21. "Time. Time Inc. Web. May 19, 2014. .Toobin, Jeffrey. Too Close to Call: The Thirty-Six Day Battle to Decide the 2000 Election. NewYork: Random House, 2001. Print." Electoral College of the United States." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration. Web. May 19, 2014. "Results of the 2000 Presidential General Election." Results of the 2000 Presidential General Election. Np,nd Web. April 30. 2014. .