The Democratic Debate is an event in which candidates’ debate over important issues surrounding the country. Candidates have the opportunity to discuss their ideas and the changes they would like to make in the country. These debates give voters a chance to gain information from potential nominees, one of whom will represent in the Democratic party in the upcoming presidential election.

The candidates that qualified for the fourth debate in October are Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Julián Castro, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang. Vox reports that for a candidate to qualify, he or she must raise donations from 130,000 people. Candidates must also earn 2 percent support from four polls that needs to be approved by the Democratic National Convention.

In a debate, candidates are asked a series of questions that they have to answer. For example, Bernie Sanders was asked if he would raise taxes for the middle class to have affordable healthcare, in which he responded, “People who have healthcare under ‘Medicare for all’ will have no premiums, no deductibles, no copayments, no out-of-pocket expenses. Yes, they will pay more in taxes but less in healthcare.”

Elizabeth Warren’s response when asked the same question gave a different stance than Sanders.

“Corporations and the nation’s wealthiest individuals would pay more and middle-class families would pay less. That’s how this is going to work,” said Warren.

Candidates debate over important issues that are affecting the country now. In the first, second and third debates, the candidates discussed the problems with healthcare and what they would do to solve these issues.

They also talked about foreign policies, gun reforms and education. Students expressed varying opinions on the importance of the debates. “I think the debate is important because they are basically talking about our future and the issues we may be dealing with in the future,” said junior Jennifer Williams. Students were also asked if they are planning to vote in the 2020 election. “Not voting means you cannot complain if an unfavorable person is put in power,” said senior Blossom Omeje, “It means you didn’t fulfill your civic duty and here to be content with the results.” Another student, Kasandra Loredo, has the same ideas as Omeje. \

“I feel like every vote counts, it makes a difference,” said Loredo. “Like they say, the little things matter.” Other students, like Hao Troung, feel uneasy about the voting situation. “I would vote depending on who are the candidates, but sometimes you kind of have to because people aren’t voting,” said Troung.