A political debate is an intense argument, discussion or confrontation between people in a public setting. The goal of political debate is to reach a common understanding of complex issues, promote informed choices, and encourage civic engagement.
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is an independent nonpartisan organization that oversees the annual general election presidential debates in the United States. The CPD sets and enforces criteria for moderator selection, which the candidates do not participate in, to ensure that the debates are focused on the candidates’ policy proposals. The debates are also structured so that there is maximum interaction between the candidates, to allow voters to compare them directly.
During debates, a candidate’s statements, policies and campaign promises become part of the public record. They can be cited by civic groups, journalists and others to hold them accountable in office, even after the election. False or misleading statements can quickly go viral, causing misinformation to circulate widely before fact-checkers can correct it.
Debates are the only time that candidates are able to compare their positions on the same set of issues in front of the same audience. This can be helpful to voters who may be unfamiliar with the candidates or their platforms. However, it is possible that the same debate format could leave some viewers with less favorable impressions of candidates or the process itself.
