Political debate gives voters an opportunity to see the real character, temperament, and unscripted approach of leaders seeking their vote. It is a critical element of a healthy democracy. But a number of flaws are plaguing the process. The most prominent flaw is the overreliance on paid media, which merely provides voters with a carefully curated view of candidates that can easily be manipulated.
Another problem is the arbitrary selection of moderators. This often results in a single broadcaster dominating the debates with its own journalistic brand and talent. Finally, the value of “spin alley” has diminished as senior campaign voices are more likely to engage voters and journalists through social media.
Despite these flaws, political debate is still an important part of the democratic process. In fact, debates can lead to improved voter knowledge of specific candidates and their policies, as well as a moderating effect on voters with strong partisan tendencies. In addition, studies show that voters are more likely to vote for candidates who share their policy priorities.
However, the debates must be reformed to better serve voters. To do this, they should include a more formal process of soliciting questions from the general public across a variety of platforms. The questions should be framed by a panel of experts that would likely include directors and members of the boards of presidential libraries and major public and private universities. In addition, the debates should allow a greater degree of flexibility in time limits to facilitate more thorough discussions of each topic and clearer comparisons and contrasts between or among positions, while keeping the discussion on-topic.