As the presidential debates are the most important event in our election process, I am writing to advocate that Jill Stein and Gary Johnson be included in the debates.

It is time to demand that we have an open democracy with free exchange of ideas and an informed public.

The right to vote means little unless we have the right to know who we can vote for. The debates should include all candidates who are on enough ballots to be able to win the presidency.

In 2016, this would mean four candidates in the debates, including Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Stein and Johnson. It is time to end the control of the Commission on Presidential Debates, a corporation controlled by the Republican and Democrat parties.

This commission seized control of the debates from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters calls the commission “a fraud on the American voter, as it sets arbitrary polling requirements to prevent the Republican and Democratic parties from having any competition.

It is time to demand a true and open presidential debate.

Safiya Fox, N.D.

Granby