How to Run a Democratic Election: Part I

On Tuesday November 5th 2024, millions of Americans will decide who moves into the White House for the next four years: former President Donald Trump, or incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris. This election cycle has been like no other, and the outcome will set the course of America's future.

In the first of our two-part deep dive into the U.S. electoral process, this week’s episode explores the American election - how it's organised, how they ensure accuracy and efficiency, how it could be improved, and the challenges of running a ballot for over 300 million people.

This episode sets the stage for a broader discussion on electoral fairness and representation, in part two of this US election 2024 special, which supporters of the show can access right away.

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Special guest for this episode:

• Dr. Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. Welcome back Emma…
• Professor Iwan Morgan, an emeritus professor of US Studies at University College London, and an expert on the US Presidency. His most recent books are ‘Reagan: American Icon’ and ‘FDR: Transforming the Presidency and Renewing America’.

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Highlights from this episode:

• The U.S. election process consists of two main parts: the primary season and the general election, each with distinct roles.
• Elections in the United States are organized at the state level, resulting in 51 individual elections across the nation.
• Voters in America do not directly elect the President but vote for electors who comprise the Electoral College.
• The dominance of the two-party system in the U.S. is partly due to structural electoral barriers against third-party candidates.
• Campaign financing has become increasingly influenced by private donations, complicating fair election practices.
• The Citizens United ruling has allowed significant spending by outside groups, raising concerns about equality in elections. 

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Additional Resources:

WEBSITE: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z9d43j6

BOOK: Reagan: American Icon by Iwan Morgan

BOOK: FDR: Transforming the Presidency and Renewing America

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:

Will America Ever Elect a Woman for President?

Should Donald Trump Be Allowed to Run for President?

What is a Primary and a Caucus?

Who is Ron DeSantis?

How Are Presidents Elected?

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