It was directed by Joshua Michael Stern, and stars Kevin Costner, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez and Madeline Carroll.

Unlike Bud, Molly cares about politics and urges him to vote in the presidential election, as she registered him as an independent.

When he sees Molly being interviewed about the election by television journalist Kate Madison, Bud remembers and attempts to drive to the polling station.

However, the election cannot be called for either candidate: the incumbent Republican, Andrew Carington Boone, and the opposing Democrat, Donald Greenleaf.

As a result of this interview, Bud's actual opinions (or lack thereof) are misinterpreted by the media, causing the candidates to flip-flop on several positions.

Boone ignores Fox's plan to offer Bud a lobbying job as a bribe, and Greenleaf reconciles with his wife.

The experience serves as a wake-up call for Bud, who stops drinking and starts working with Kate and Molly to understand the issues of the election and make the right choice.

[3] Joshua Michael Stern, who directed and co-wrote the script with Jason Richman, had earlier precedents to follow.

The premise of the film is similar to an Isaac Asimov story "Franchise", in which elections have evolved until the entire decision is based on one man chosen by Multivac.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Despite Kevin Costner providing his most charismatic performance in years, Swing Vote fails to find the right mix of political satire and heartfelt drama.

[8] Roger Ebert noted that in building the premise, "the movie makes a plucky stab at explaining how it comes to happen – and it almost sounds plausible."

He gave it three stars, saying that a "mix of comedy and drama is winning; Costner couldn't be better, and the little girl is a find.

"[14] Bradley Blakeman, a former deputy assistant for appointments and scheduling to President George W. Bush, filed a lawsuit on August 7, 2008, stating that he gave Kelsey Grammer a copyrighted screenplay titled Go November in 2006.

The lawsuit, filed at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Long Island, New York, was against Grammer, Kevin Costner (co-financier), The Walt Disney Company (owner of the film rights), Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Inc. (production company), and Touchstone Pictures (distributor), and claims that the plot and marketing elements of Swing Vote were stolen from him.