How America’s Electoral System Benefits Authoritarianism, and How We Can Fix it
- January 31, 2022
Join Protect Democracy, Unite America, and R Street on Wednesday, February 2 at 12:00pm ET/ 9:00am PT for a panel on how features of the U.S. electoral system are exacerbating America’s authoritarian threat. While those concerned about U.S. democracy justifiably focus on the current far-right campaigns to curtail voting rights nationwide and interfere with election administration, the roots of antidemocratic extremism run much deeper. A new report by Protect Democracy argues that, unlike most other major democracies, the U.S. electoral system—single-member plurality—is structurally and uniquely advantaging authoritarianism: diluting minority voting power, weakening competition between the major parties, preventing an electorally viable new center-right party, and rewarding extreme factions at the ballot box.
This briefing will address the following questions:
- How is America’s electoral system anomalous?What challenges does this system present to democratic resilience?; andHow can we structurally reverse the authoritarian tide?
The following panelists will speak and answer questions:
- Didi Kuo, Associate Director for Research and Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, Stanford University
- Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow, Political Reform Program, New America
- Nick Troiano, Executive Director, Unite America
- Matt Germer, Resident Elections Fellow, Governance Program, R Street
At a time when it’s easy to feel bleak about the state of our democracy, our panelists will explain why they’re still hopeful.
Questions? Contact: [email protected]
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