Currently, there are two official presidential debate dates, one on June 27, 2024 and the other on September 10, 2024, where we will get to see incumbent President Biden take on former President Trump.
Unlike in previous years, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) will not be hosting the debate after complaints from both main candidates.
There will also be no live audience for the first presidential debate. This is yet another twist to the 2024 presidential debates. This article will give you details on the presidential debate, when and how it will be hosted and circumstances surrounding the debate.
US Election 2024: scheduled presidential debates
The first debate will begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on June 27. It will be hosted by CNN in their studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Leading CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are set to moderate the debate. CNN stated that “there will be no live audience present during the debate”.
Before now live audiences have always been present during presidential debates. CNN says that this decision will ensure ‘orderly proceeding’ of the debate and candidates would be able to make the most of their allotted time.
Also, to qualify to participate in the debate, candidates must receive at least 15% in four national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards.
The second debate will be held on September 10 and will be hosted by ABC. This date was set to ensure that the debates are concluded before early voting begins in some states.
ABC has yet to detail where the debate will be taking place. It also hasn’t established the format yet. ABC however, has set the same 15% polling threshold as CNN. It has also been announced by the network that Anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will serve as moderators for the forthcoming debate.
What about third party candidates?
It is not certain if any other candidates will make it to the debates, but CNN and ABC’s rules seem to make it tough for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. With his current statistics, he doesn’t meet the requirement to participate in the presidential debate.
For a candidate to be eligible for the upcoming election, their name needs to be on the general election ballot in enough states to be able to theoretically win a majority of the electoral college votes (a total of 270 votes).
Currently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has qualified for the ballot in three states (California, Michigan and Utah). His name is listed in eight more (Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire and North Carolina), but he hasn’t officially qualified in those eight states yet.
These eleven states together have 123 electoral college votes. He would need to be on the ballot in more states to have a chance at winning the election.
Why is the Commission On Presidential Debates (CPD) not hosting the debates?
For decades the CPD hosts presidential debates but Trump and Biden are not holding the debate under the non-partisan CPD.
Trump blames the CPD for microphone issues during a presidential debate in 2016. Biden’s campaign calls its plans “out of step with changes in the structure of our elections and the interests of voters.”
Both sides had also taken particular issue with the dates the commission had announced for the presidential debates. The CPD initially scheduled the presidential debates for one in September and two in October.
The presidential candidates argue that the debates should happen earlier, before voting begins.
The presidential debate format and terms are still being negotiated, but they are expected to deviate from the traditional Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) model, as both Biden and Trump have declined to participate in CPD-sponsored events.
The 2024 presidential debates are shaping up to be a big moment in the election cycle, with the potential to significantly impact public opinion and the outcome of the race.
