Looking west across the University of Arizona mall. The Student Union Memorial Center and Old Main can both been seen.
The University of Arizona is hosting a series of election roundtable discussions to unpack global threats to democracy to young voters before Election Day.
Professor Lisa Sanchez said community dialogues are important to democracy, but especially for young voters who will be casting a ballot for the first time in a few short weeks.
“Many of them are first time voters, and we want this to become a habit. We also want them to be sure that they have long term trust in democracy, long term trust in voting, and all of these things we see as really important outcomes,” she said.
The three discussions put on by the School of Government and Public Policy focus on challenges to democracy, including misinformation and a loss of trust in the election process.
Professor Paul Schuler said he wants to highlight that the United States is not the only country questioning the integrity of its democracy. Over 50 countries are hosting elections this year, and Schuler’s panel will feature scholars who study “democratic backsliding” in Europe, India, and the Philippines.
“India, for example, has over a billion people, is one of the most important democracies in the world, and in many different measures and indices of democracy, it has declined as a country with free and fair elections,” he said. “We also have an expert on European politics that's going to be looking at populism in Western Europe. What we're trying to do with that talk is to put the US election in the context of the erosion of democracy that some people perceive happening globally.”
Registration is required for the events, but they are free to attend. Panels are scheduled for Oct. 10, 24, and 29, from 6-7:30 p.m. Virtual attendance is also available.
Register for the panel on Oct. 10 here
Register for the panel on Oct. 24 here
Register for the panel on Oct. 29 here
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