or citizens of a democracy, voting is the most fundamental right and the most essential practice. In this election year, to choose the presidential leadership that would guide us in a new century, PBS served voters with an unprecedented level of political coverage. Featuring direct access to candidates as well as a broad range of viewpoints to ensure that the agendas and perspectives of America's diverse population were included in campaign coverage, PBS gave viewers the depth and substance they needed to cast an informed vote. Under the umbrella of the PBS Democracy Project funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS provided more than 70 hours of national programming. The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer's comprehensive convention coverage, the only complete, primetime, over-the-air broadcast of the Republican and Democratic Conventions, set the stage for such groundbreaking programming as the live interactive broadcast Time to Choose: A PBS/NPR Voter's Guide, marking the first collaboration between The NewsHour, Frontline and NPR. Creating a virtual new civic space, the live, three-hour broadcast originated from five stations and the entire effort gained a dynamic interactivity through online components. The NewsHour stayed with the count throughout election night, with its signature emphasis on analysis and perspective. Public television's bench strength in news broadcasting followed the twists and turns of the post-vote drama, clarifying chads and Constitutional issues as necessary, and PBS closed its coverage of Election 2000 with the inauguration of George W. Bush.

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"For voters to be able to hear candidates speak, without media filters, is essential for a healthy democracy. In the extensive PBS coverage of the national party conventions, presidential debates, and other national and local election programming, public television stations across the country enjoyed a glorious opportunity to present candidates and their positions to the great majority of the American people. In many instances these were the only televised discussions among the candidates for Congress, state legislatures and the governor's mansions that voters could see." --Jim Lehrer Executive Editor The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

"Hispanics are Idaho's largest minority group and an integral part of Southern Idaho's economy, yet their numbers have not translated into a force on election day. Idaho Public Television is committed to giving this substantial segment of the population a voice in our community through projects like our outreach in preparation for The Idaho Debates for the 1st District Congressional seat, which we broadcast in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and the Idaho Press Club." --Bruce Reichert Executive Producer Idaho Public Television

amed television's most respected news anchor in a recent poll, Jim Lehrer played a central role in much of PBS's presidential coverage and, for the third consecutive election, moderated the nationally televised presidential debate. According to columnist William Safire, Lehrer "now holds the title and wields the power of 'America's Moderator' because he has earned the trust of voters and pols alike, and has demonstrated his professional mastery of all three of the chosen formats."