Political debate is a vital part of our democracy. It enables citizens to learn about and compare ideas and policies, and it helps us understand the differing viewpoints of our fellow Americans. In the early years of our nation, debates showcased regional interests and the tension between emerging political parties, illustrating different visions for America’s future.
Today, presidential debates are elaborate events that are incredibly costly to produce. Hosting universities construct or retrofit spaces not only for the debate venue but also for spin alleys, candidate holding rooms, surrogate viewing areas, press filing centers and staff work spaces. Thousands of members of the media, campaign staff and audience travel to the event. And Secret Service provides transportation systems to move candidates, staff and the crowd to and from the debate site.
There is a strong consensus among those who organize and participate in debates and the voters who watch them that the dialogue should be informative rather than canned; that the topics should be wide-ranging and relevant to voter choice and interest; and that the vice-presidential and presidential candidates should both be heard.
However, the way debates are currently conducted is inflexible and inefficient. The current format dates back two decades and, despite attempts to reform it, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) still struggles with old ways of doing things: