Election 2000: How We Got Here

The votes are all in, but the campaign has shifted into the courts. Now they can tell us who won

There is scarcely a political question in America, Tocqueville observed, that doesn't turn sooner or later into a judicial one. Nowhere has that been truer than in Florida over the past two weeks. Going into the election, it looked like the presidency would be determined by the candidates' positions on issues such as prescription drugs and tax cuts. Now it seems likely to turn on how courts interpret obscure state election laws and arcane questions of administrative discretion.

The most striking thing about the legal battles in Florida is just how quickly the briefs are flying. By late last week, 24-hour...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!