The saying goes that the next election begins on inauguration day. This statement rings truer today more than ever. Drawn-out campaigns stretch over years, exhausting voters, draining resources, and detracting from the critical work of governing. However, this timeline was not always the case. The length of presidential campaigns has expanded since the early 1970s. After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Senator George McGovern and Representative Donald Fraser passed election reforms that allowed voters to choose the presidential nominee through primaries and caucuses. In the 1976 election, Jimmy Carter used the Iowa caucus, the first stop on the campaign trail, to position himself as the front-runner. Since then, presidential campaigns have begun in January of the election year, with candidates preparing even earlier to secure early leads in Iowa and New Hampshire.

This extended campaign timeline has gained traction for several reasons. It gives voters more opportunities to see candidates in person rather than just through political ads, allows inexperienced candidates time to learn how to run a national campaign, and provides time for candidates to refine their positions. Television companies also benefit from the longer campaign season as it gives them more material to attract viewers. However, the extended election cycle can also lead to sensationalist political reporting, focusing on trivial matters, which may erode trust in candidates and increase polarization. Additional problems include the endless fundraising cycle, political pressure on government decisions throughout the campaign, and voter fatigue. Spending on presidential elections continues to increase with it reaching over $14 billion for the 2020 presidential election, which is more money than any previous campaign. In July 2016, 59% of voters reported feeling exhausted by election coverage, with some opting to disaffiliate as a result. Additionally, a 2023 poll indicated that most Americans say that recent presidential campaigns have been too long and are not focused on the right issues. Early primaries tend to attract more extreme voters, pushing candidates toward polarized positions, and longer campaigns provide more time for personal attacks, further sowing distrust in the political system.

A shorter election cycle could restore enthusiasm and trust in democracy. A condensed timeline would engage voters more effectively, limit the number of attacks between candidates, reduce the need for massive fundraising, decrease polarization, and allow elected officials to focus more on governing. There are international precedents for this change. In 2007, Mexico passed a law limiting the length of campaigns to 147 days. In Argentina, election ads cannot begin prior to 60 days before the election, and the official campaign begins 25 days later. France’s presidential campaigns are typically only two weeks long. The UK held a parliamentary election in six weeks, and campaigns last about 12 days in Japan.

However, the U.S. has no such laws, so campaigns remain lengthy. The 2024 election stands out as a unique case, with Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President, Kamala Harris, starting her campaign only in late July 2024 due to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Conversely, Republican nominee and former President, Donald Trump’s, timeline is more traditional, as he began his campaign in November 2022. 

Harris’s unconventional, late entry into the race has sparked significant discussion around whether shorter campaigns are the winning strategy. Political strategists argue that her quick entry has energized voters, limited the number of attacks from Trump, and reduced public scrutiny. Some strategists, however, warn that her high polling numbers may reflect initial momentum, and it remains to be seen whether this strategy will hold through Election Day on November 7. A Harris win could convince the country that a shorter, streamlined campaign season is not only a winning strategy but also necessary to strengthen democracy and better serve the needs of voters.