Join Protect Democracy, Unite America, and R Street on Wednesday, February 2 at 12:00pm ET/ 9:00am PT for a discussion 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?
>How can we structurally reverse the authoritarian tide?
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.
The Speakers for this event include:
Didi Kuo Associate Director for Research and Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development @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