Organizer and moderator guide

1. Fairness standards

These are the practices most nonpartisan forum hosts in the US follow. FairStream enforces the timing ones automatically; the rest are up to you as the organizer.

• Invite every qualified candidate in the race, based on criteria you set before sending invitations (for example, every candidate on the ballot). Publish the criteria.
• Same questions, same time. FairStream gives every speaker the same answer time and rotates who goes first.
• Announce the rules in advance and do not change them during the event. If you must change them, change them for everyone. FairStream logs every change on the public page.
• Empty chair policy. If a candidate declines, say so neutrally at the start ("Candidate X was invited and was unable to attend"). Do not give their time to anyone else.
• Neutral moderator. The moderator should not be a candidate, a campaign staffer or someone who has endorsed in the race.
• No endorsements from the host during the event or in the event description.
• Federal races: if you host a debate between candidates for federal office (US House, US Senate, President), the FEC has specific rules on who may stage a debate and how candidates are selected (11 CFR 110.13). They apply to you as the host, not to FairStream. State and local races follow your state's rules.

2. Set up the forum (10 minutes)

1. Open app.fairstream.live/debate/new and sign in with Google, Facebook, Apple or email.
2. About the event: pick a template, enter the title and your city, county or district.
3. Rules: choose Moderated rounds for equal time, set the answer time (60 to 120 seconds works well), rounds per topic and the questions. The app estimates the length so you stay within 30 minutes (Free) or 60 minutes (Plus).
4. Streaming and recording: keep recording on; add a YouTube or Facebook stream key if you want to go live (see below).
5. Transparency: enter the organizing group and a public contact email. They are shown on the public forum page.
6. Time slot: pick Free or Plus and a start time. Times are shown in your time zone. Forums can start from 8:00 AM Eastern to 9:00 PM Pacific.

Where to get a stream key

• YouTube: YouTube Studio, Create, Go live, Stream. Copy the stream key. New channels may need 24 hours before live streaming is enabled, so do this early.
• Facebook: on your Page, Live video, Streaming software. Copy the stream key (use a persistent key if the event is more than a day away).

3. Invite the candidates

• Open the forum detail and copy the invitation link. Send the same link to every candidate, ideally in one email so everyone sees who was invited.
• Candidates do not need an account. They open the link, type their name and agree to the streaming and recording notice.
• Ask candidates to join from a quiet room, with headphones, on a computer if possible, and to test the link the day before.
• Share the public forum page with voters and the press. It shows the rules, the organizer and the confirmed participants.

4. Rehearsal

Use the free 20-minute rehearsal (no slot, no card) a day or two before the event. Send the rehearsal link to the candidates and walk through one practice question so everyone sees the timer, the microphone muting and the speaking order. Nothing is streamed or recorded.

5. Day-of checklist

• Join 15 minutes early; the waiting room opens then.
• Check that every candidate's name, camera and microphone work.
• If you stream, check the YouTube or Facebook page shows the stream as live.
• Have a backup contact (phone or text) for every candidate in case their connection drops.
• Remind the audience where to watch and, if you collect questions, how to send them.

6. Moderator guide and script

FairStream handles the clock and the order. The moderator's job is to welcome everyone, read the questions neutrally, keep the tone civil and close the event.

Do

• Read every question the same way, word for word, to every candidate.
• Introduce candidates in ballot order or alphabetical order, and say which you used.
• Stay neutral in tone and body language. Do not comment on answers.
• Remind everyone of the rules at the start.

Don't

• Do not ask follow-up questions to only one candidate.
• Do not share your own views or correct a candidate's claims during the forum.
• Do not give anyone extra time; FairStream will not allow it anyway.

Sample opening script

Sample closing script

7. After the forum

• Download the recording from the forum detail within 7 days; after that we delete it automatically.
• With Plus, the transcript and AI summary are usually ready within 2 hours. The summary is machine-generated and labeled as such; review it before you share it, and never present it as an official statement of a candidate.
• The public time report shows how much time each candidate was given and used. You can link to it as proof of fairness.

8. Sample invitation and questions

Invitation email

Nonpartisan question ideas

• Why are you running, and what qualifies you for this office?
• What is the most important issue facing [community] and how would you address it?
• How would you approach the budget, and what would you prioritize?
• Housing, public safety, roads and transit, schools: pick topics that matter locally.
• How will you work with people who disagree with you?

Questions? Email support@fairstream.live. We help with the tool; we do not advise on campaign content or strategy.