When voters debate the issues of an election, they are better informed than if they simply rely on filtered news coverage. While debates can be skewed by partisan rhetoric, poorly moderated events, or rude audience behavior, they provide an opportunity for candidates to share their ideas in a format that provides ample time for discussion and a platform for voters to engage with candidates directly.
Debates are also unique in that they allow for a more comprehensive view of candidates’ positions and policies than paid media, which gives each candidate an image and message crafted by a campaign team. Furthermore, research shows that political debates are an effective tool for persuading voters, particularly when the topics are complex or unfamiliar.
The CPD’s goal in a general election debate is to provide the public with a forum that features the leading candidates. History teaches us that it is speculative at best to expect candidates with only scant support to agree to share the stage. Therefore, the CPD selects debate sites based on objective criteria that considers factors such as early voting dates, religious and federal holidays, major milestone events (e.g., opening of the UN General Assembly), and White House television pool contractual conflicts (like Major League Baseball).
Debates are also important to voters because they give undecided voters a sense of what it will be like to vote for a particular candidate. A strong debate performance, plus other factors such as advertising and news coverage, can shift a voter off the fence and into a committed position. Longer than a tweet, more substantive than an ad, and more accessible than a town hall meeting, debates represent democratic ideals that embody the role of political debate in our democracy.
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