What are the rules for tonight's presidential debate?

Rachel Barber, Sudiksha Kochi and Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY
·1 min read

The CNN Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will mark some firsts in the history of presidential debates, including the rules for tonight’s event.

The candidates were given a pen, a pad of paper, and a water bottle, but prohibited from bringing props or prewritten notes. Following a history of presidential frontrunners talking over one another, CNN announced that candidates’ microphones would be muted throughout the debate when it is not their turn to speak.

More: Presidential debate live updates: How to watch Trump, Biden's showdown on CNN

The candidates will also be unable to consult with their campaign teams during the event’s two commercial breaks, a departure from past formats overseen by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Biden’s campaign won a coin flip against Trump’s, giving his aides a choice between selecting the president’s podium or the order of the debate’s closing statements. The president’s campaign opted for the podium on the right side of the stage, meaning Trump’s campaign got to choose the order of closing statements. His team opted to give Trump the final word.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here are the rules for tonight's presidential debate

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