James Madison Quotes

The very foundation of our democracy depends on the integrity of our elections.

We live in a representative democracy, characterized by free and fair elections and peaceful transfers of power. After most elections, roughly half of Americans are thrilled with the results; the other half are profoundly disappointed.

In America, unlike England, unlike Israel, unlike Japan, other democracies, we have elections that have staggered terms.

We already have term limits. They’re called elections.

In a new democracy, the most important election is the second election.

Bad government is made in the poling places of this country.

The people are always worsted in an election.

One person, one vote sounds so reasonable and - dare I say it - democratic. But the voting process in America is anything but fair and balanced.

In 21st-century America, as in Georgian Britain, elections are raucous, flamboyant, flag-waving, expensive, and sometimes ramshackle things.

For the record, our democracy is revered around the world. And free elections are the best way on Earth to choose our leaders. This is how we elected John F. Kennedy; Ronald Reagan; two George Bushes; Bill Clinton; and Barack Obama. It has worked for decades.

When there is a parliamentarian crisis, the only solution in a democracy is early elections.

After Trump, how can we credibly say that our process for choosing a national leader yields the best possible result, or even someone capable of uniting the country, let alone running it?

Our nation is not a fully representative democracy if we do not have a one-person, one-vote method of directly electing our president. It disproportionately tilts favor to smaller states with smaller populations.

The Electoral College needs to go, because it's made our society less and less democratic.

America is an outlier in the world of democracies when it comes to the structure and conduct of elections.

Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.

It seems that elections today are more popularity than they are substantial issues.

It seems to be impossible to hold a credible election without reforming the electoral system.

The American people's vote can't be bought.

Did I end up finding a little blue pill to cure America's electoral dysfunction? Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

There are some rights that are so fundamental to our society that you'd think the public debate would be closed on them. The right of every American citizen to vote - regardless of age, race, or income level - is one of them.

Elections matter, but how much they matter depends entirely on how free, open and fair they are.

To get elected in Mexico today, you have to compete like any democracy, and you don't do that by being manipulated.

Elections are rarely perfect.

Organising free and fair elections is more important than the result itself.