Political debate is an important part of the electoral process. It can influence voter choice by helping voters learn about candidates’ positions, policies and views on issues. It also can lead to shifts in voter support, especially among undecided voters. In the United States, the presidential debates have been a key component in shaping public opinion and voter behavior since 1988, when the League of Women Voters took over from campaign strategists to run the nonpartisan debates.
Federal election law requires the organization that stages a debate to select the candidates who will participate on the basis of pre-established, objective criteria. The CPD has adopted nonpartisan candidate selection criteria that take into account a variety of factors.
These include a review of the candidates’ national organizational strength and competitiveness, signs of national newsworthiness and interest and the likelihood that the candidates will be able to sharpen their positions in a focused debate format. The CPD’s decision to set the threshold at 15 percent was made after careful consideration and reflects a balance of several factors.
The CPD regularly advises sponsors of non-presidential debates, including gubernatorial, congressional and mayoral, as well as city council, state legislative and town hall debates. These debates can be seen in local television stations and on streaming services. Recent studies have shown that, in addition to affecting voting choices, debates can increase the public’s knowledge of candidates’ positions and the policy issues on which they differ. These increased levels of voter knowledge can have long-term benefits.