By the time the last chad drops on November 4, 2008, the cost of electing the next president will exceed a billion dollars. Yep. One billion dollars. Is this what democracy costs? The Takeaway is crunching the numbers with you — and much more — on public radio and on this Web site as Election Day approaches.

The Takeaway is a multi-platform news program created by PRI-Public Radio International and WNYC-New York Public Radio in collaboration with the BBC World Service, The New York Times and WGBH Boston. Hosts John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji invite you to engage in real dialogue on and off the air. We hope to serve as a national watercooler and a trusted morning companion. The conversation starts now. We hope you’ll join us.