During the 2000 Presidential election season, it took 36 days and a Supreme Court decision before George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States.

Before that final Supreme Court decision, there was a five-week battle over the ballots, the rules, the laws and the courts. The amount of litigation and lawyers involved has been called "unprecedented." But what was unprecedented two decades ago looks quaint in 2020.

This year campaigns and political parties have staffed up their legal war rooms, making this election season one of the most litigated ever. A lot of the on-going lawsuits are due to coronavirus-related election issues, with at least 248 nationwide.

Three of the lawyers preparing for this election season take us from where they were on election night in 2000 to the work they're doing now.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org

Special thanks to Sam Gringlas and Courtney Dorning for reporting featured in this episode.

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This Election Season Is Shaping Up To Be The Most Litigated Ever

Consider This from NPR