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Questions for the US Presidential Candidates on Democracy and Human Rights [1]
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Date: 2024-12
The US presidential campaign is now in full swing, dramatically reshaped by President Joe Biden’s decision not to run for reelection and the Democratic Party’s nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him at the top of its ticket. Harris and former president Donald Trump, her Republican opponent, are scheduled to debate each other on September 10 in Philadelphia.
As Americans tune in to consider which candidate best addresses the domestic and international issues most on their minds, Freedom House poses the following questions pertaining to democracy and human rights:
US democracy: According to Freedom House research, political rights and civil liberties in the United States have declined over the past decade. What do you see as the greatest threats to freedom and democracy in the country, and what will you do to reverse these trends and unite Americans around a shared vision of US democracy?
Politicized prosecutions: The United States’ strong rule of law and judicial independence are foundational to its democracy. Yet many are concerned that the Supreme Court’s recent decision on presidential immunity opens the door for presidents to improperly direct or interfere with specific criminal investigations. As president, what would you do to protect prosecutorial independence at the US Justice Department?
Political violence: Will you pledge to publicly denounce any attempts to intimidate, harass, threaten, or incite violence against political opponents, their supporters, and election workers?
Transfer of power: Will you commit to accepting and publicly defending the final results of the 2024 presidential election, once any legal challenges have been duly adjudicated by state and federal courts according to the democratic process? Would it ever be appropriate to deny the results or disrupt the transfer of presidential power after that point, or by extralegal means?
Election integrity: US elections are objectively free and fair. While there has been a concerning partisan divide on levels of trust in elections in recent years, according to recent polling , Americans regardless of party strongly value free and fair elections and are committed to keeping them strong. What do you believe the priorities should be when it comes to maintaining free and fair elections for American voters and increasing public trust in the system?
Global democracy: Global freedom declined for an 18th consecutive year in 2023, according to Freedom House research. Today only 20 percent of the world’s people live in Free countries. What do you view as the United States’ role in strengthening democracy and protecting human rights around the world?
Stolen elections abroad: How should the United States, and other democratic nations, respond to autocrats who deny the results of free and fair elections and attempt to hold on to power, such as in Belarus under Alyaksandr Lukashenka and more recently in Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro? Would you recognize regimes that try to seize or retain power by undermining and manipulating democratic elections? Should the United States impose sanctions in such cases? How else would your administration respond?
Electoral disinformation: Many challenges in recent elections around the world have been related to the spread of false and misleading information, whether from domestic or foreign sources. What steps should the United States take to protect free speech and improve the integrity of information surrounding elections? What role do you see, if any, for additional regulation of the internet and/or technology companies?
Invasion of Ukraine: Moscow’s unprovoked war against Ukraine has been wreaking havoc—with global impacts—for more than two years and shows little sign of abating. What do you think should be done to support the people of Ukraine in their fight for their democracy, their freedom, and their survival?
Relations with China: The United States has a complicated relationship with China, fraught with important strategic interests and economic ties. At the same time, the practices of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are shifting the global system away from democratic norms. As president, how would you navigate this crucial relationship? And what is your position on the protection of democracy and freedom in Taiwan?
Accountability for Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, is considered an important strategic partner of the United States. Like Chinese authorities, however, Saudi leaders have carried out human rights abuses and persecuted their critics abroad via transnational repression. What more do you think the United States should do to hold the Saudi government accountable and push it toward political reform?
Countering authoritarian influence: The regimes of China and Russia are deepening investment and strengthening their influence in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. What do you believe the United States should do to counter Vladimir Putin’s and Xi Jinping’s influence and propaganda campaigns? How can the United States build more robust relations with governments in these regions that are based on shared democratic values?
Backsliding in India: India is the world’s most populous democracy, and like the United States, has experienced democratic backsliding in recent years. Freedom House downgraded India from Free to Partly Free in 2021 because of attacks on minority populations, crackdowns on independent media, and suppression of free speech. As president, how would you approach partnership with India in light of these challenges?
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