For many voters, recent elections have felt existential. They’re not wrong — the stakes are as high as they seem. This seemingly endless cycle is no accident: our electoral system is particularly vulnerable to the global authoritarian wave. Polarization and a strict two party system have empowered a small authoritarian faction to gain control of one of the two parties. As a result, every election has become an “us vs. them” battle wherein democracy itself seems to hang in the balance.

A country as large and as diverse as the United States demands a democracy that facilitates healthy competition, robust representation, and pluralism in our politics. Yet our electoral system:

– Disadvantages minority voices;
– Stifles competition;
– Limits the number of political parties;
– Escalates extremism; 
– Limits voter choice; and
– Exacerbates political violence.

Stopping the authoritarian threat requires bold and ambitious long-term strategies to ensure that the Democracy of Tomorrow better reflects the will of all Americans and is oriented towards collaboratively addressing our country’s most pressing challenges.