By: Grace Winkeljohn
As the United States 2024 Presidential Election approaches, European allies are raising questions about the United States (U.S.) election process and what the results may mean for their nation and ours. The U.S. and European governments share many similarities, making them ripe for comparison. However, there are also many differences sparking increased curiosity among European citizens regarding the current election. Such differences include the laws governing the election process, the role of political parties, and the associated media coverage, all of which will influence what unfolds in the nearing months.
The European Union (EU) and the U.S. are both democracies, and thus their election processes are somewhat alike. The EU, composed of 27 member states, is governed by Members of the European Parliament (MEP), who are directly elected by its citizens. Similarly, the United States, composed of 50 states, is governed by the President, who is directly elected by the citizens of each state. Although the European Parliament (EP) consists of 720 members and the U.S. President is a single person, they share similar powers in carrying out their functions. For example, the MEPs have power to decide on international agreements and approve or reject a legislative proposal. The U.S. President is delegated similar powers by the Constitution, which include the powers to decide whether to sign or veto legislation offered by Congress and negotiating formal agreements with other countries. Despite these similarities, it is the immense differences in these two democracies that are leading to tension between the United States and its allies across the Atlantic.
The laws governing the election process are one reason people in Europe are suspicious of the U.S. process. First, in the U.S. it is required by law that the Presidential Election be held on “the Tuesday after the first Monday in November,” whereas in Europe, election days span from Thursday to Sunday. As one author put it in “Why the U.S. Presidential Election Matters for Europe,” elections lasting until four days ensure maximum voter participation because less people “need to finagle with their employers to get off work to vote.” Despite this difference, the United States saw the highest voter turnout in decades in 2020, amounting to 62.8%. Yet, this percentage of voter participation is still behind that of some of the EU member states, such as Sweden with 80.3% participation and Germany with 69.6%. Additionally, laws impacting whether criminals may vote vary widely in the EU and U.S. For example, the criminal disenfranchisement laws in the U.S. are much more restrictive than in Europe. As the Human Rights Watch pointed out, “[w]e know of no other democracy besides the United States in which convicted offenders who have served their sentences are nonetheless disenfranchised for life.” In contrast, Germany and France permit disenfranchisement only when it is imposed by a court order, and in Germany, prison authorities are required to encourage prisoners to exercise their voting rights.
The major differences in the political parties between the U.S. and the EU highlights the impact that politics can have on the polarization of its citizens. For starters, the EU has seven political parties, while the U.S. consists of only two major parties: the Democratic and Republican Parties. The limited number of political parties may be related to Americans becoming more dissatisfied with the major political parties. In a study done by the Pew Research Center, it was found that among U.S. adults surveyed, 37% said wanting more political parties described their views extremely well and another 31% said this described their feelings somewhat well. The study depicts that many U.S. citizens are dissatisfied with either party, believing that neither strongly represents their views. This discontent may explain the deterioration of American’s feeling towards members of another party, causing increased polarization.
Additionally, a study conducted by Brown University found that political polarization in the U.S. has increased more dramatically than eight other countries, six of which are EU members. In Germany, Norway, and Sweden polarization has actually decreased over the past forty years, while in the U.S., it has increased by an average of 4.8 points per decade. The study suggests that the difference in this increase is because the two major U.S. parties have become more homogenous. The two groups are engaging in “party sorting” based on ideologies such as race and religion. This type of sorting is less pronounced in the EU. According to the study, the final reason for the difference in the increased polarization is the widespread use of media.
Media plays an increasingly prominent role in shaping political discussions across the U.S. and the EU. Citizens of both the U.S. and Europe find that it is both a constructive and destructive component of political life. The laws surrounding media are very similar in the EU and the U.S. The EU believes that the freedom of political expression is considered a fundamental right and is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. In response to rising concerns about the politicization of media, it recently adopted the Media Freedom Act to give its citizens more autonomy over the media. In the U.S., media is often considered free speech or free press and is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Still, the effects of media vary greatly.
A study conducted by the Pew Research Center represented that most countries viewed social media as a positive thing. Specifically, it found that many members of the EU such as Poland, Sweden, and Hungary said it was beneficial for democracy. However, the U.S. was a clear outlier with 64% of Americans stating that media has had a negative impact on democracy. Additionally, it found that Americans are more negative than EU member states in their assessment of ways media has affected society with 79% believing that it has made Americans more divided in their political opinions. In comparison, European countries still place high value on their media sources. For example, the European Commission found that the trust in media was 95% in Sweden, 90% in Germany, and 88% in Spain and the Netherlands. This difference is likely due to the fact the U.S. has much higher levels of partisan news production, consumption, and polarization.
These differences are likely to impact the 2024 election and, in turn, could have substantial implications for Europe. Since the EU is highly dependent on the U.S. for security guarantees, its citizens are closely examining what is occurring across the Atlantic. One author said that this election will serve as a potential inflection point in transatlantic relations, mainly due to Europeans’ concerns about Donald Trump’s potential of returning to the presidency and his “America First” policies. Citizens of the EU are highly concerned that another Trump Presidency would lead to reduced military and financial support for Ukraine. Finally, “Europeans fear another Trump presidency would be disastrous for transatlantic economic relations.” This fear is due to Trump stating in 2016 that the U.S. was trapped in trade agreements where allies were free-riding on U.S. security guarantees. Further, if he were to reintroduce tariffs, there could be a negative impact on EU member states.
However, these views on Donald Trump are not shared across every member state of the EU. For example, the Prime Minister of Hungary stated that he will be taking Trump’s side in this election. Additionally, the EU has also expressed concerns for Kamala Harris. The Prime Minister of the European Commission stated that “there are obviously doubts” about Harris. It was also noted that Harris would have high expectations of European nations, which would include “greater support for Ukraine and increased defense spending within NATO.” These statements, made by members of the EU, portray the anxiety felt by many over the 2024 U.S. election, regardless of which side prevails.
A comparative look at the election processes in the EU and the U.S. shows that they differ greatly in structure and approach. Analyzing these differences portrays that these notable differences may have powerful impacts on the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. While Americans remain divided, awaiting the results of November 4, 2024, European citizens similarly await the ramifications that the results may place upon them in the near future.
