The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is an independent nonprofit corporation established in 1987 under the joint sponsorship of both the Democratic and Republican political parties in the United States.

At a 1987 press conference announcing the commission’s creation, the two chairs of the CPD were identified: Paul G. Kirk and Frank Fahrenkopf, the chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. Fahrenkopf said that the commission was not likely to include third-party candidates in debates, and Kirk said he personally believed they should be excluded from the debates.

While Americans have multiple choices available to them regarding goods and services, their political options have been restricted by the two major parties by exclusion from the debates, the use of ballot access restrictions, redistricting and voter-suppression laws.

The Libertarian Party is the only third party that is on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Yet, the CPD has established an arbitrary polling threshold of 15 percent, the purpose of which is to exclude participation in the debates by third-party candidates.

Collectively, at all levels of government, the Democratic and Republican parties have given us tens of trillions in debt, over $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities and an endless stream of unnecessary and costly wars.

Consider voting Libertarian this year for positive change.