The 2000 race to the White House is the first presidential election where the Internet is having a major impact on its coverage.

From George W. Bush calling for the immediate disclosure of campaign finance documents on the Internet, to live, streaming media of the debates, the Web is being touted by academicians, analysts and other experts as the source for election coverage that far surpasses what is presented by television or newspapers. After all, Internet users are capable of reviewing detailed information about the candidates, including their voting records, public mishaps and the text of their speeches, CNET News reports.

A number of sites -- such as Web White & Blue 2000, a nonpartisan, nonprofit project by the Markle Foundation which hosts ongoing cyberdebates; Evote.com, which features continuing coverage of both candidates’ campaigns; and Debates.org, a project of the Commission on Presidential Debates, offering chat sessions with political leaders, transcripts of Tuesday night’s debate and information in Spanish -- are stretching the degree of participation in this year’s election, CNET reports.

The Web is a venue of discontent, as well. One Web site called Debatethis.org was established by the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), which wants the commission to open the debates to third party candidates Pat Buchanan and Ralph Nader, CNET reports.

But there's more to do online than simply read or chat.

Four California counties are using the Internet for a Web-based voting simulation. Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Diego and San Mateo residents won't be able to vote at home, but will be able to go to online voting booths at community centers, courthouses and city halls, use laptop computers to cast non-binding votes and examine simulated ballots until Nov. 3, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Bill Jones, California’s secretary of state, said the project is intended to appeal to younger, tech-savvy voters, many of whom have not voted in recent elections. Other supporters of the project say the Internet could also provide a way for homebound and rural Americans to participate in the elections.

The online voting projects in California have plenty of opponents. Concerns have been raised that online voting could be susceptible to computer hackers, other forms of voter fraud and viruses. And Gov. Gary Davis vetoed a bill last week that would have established state-run voting projects in three California counties. Davis said better security measures are needed to protect against fraud and abuse, the Mercury News reports.

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