CNN has announced the official rules for the highly anticipated first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, which is set to take place in less than two weeks. Both the campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to the regulations, according to a statement released by CNN on Saturday.

The network highlighted that it is not out of the realm of possibility for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to join the two major party contenders on the debate stage. However, Kennedy would need to meet certain criteria to qualify for the CNN showdown. This includes a requirement to have received at least 15% support in four separate national polls. Additionally, the candidate must be on the ballot in a sufficient number of states to reach the milestone of 270 electoral college votes.

As it stands, Kennedy is currently on the ballot in six states, which totals to a potential of 89 Electoral College votes. This puts him within range of meeting the requirements necessary for participation.

The 90-minute debate is scheduled to be held on June 27 in Atlanta and will be moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. It will mark the first face-to-face encounter between Biden and Trump since their heated debates during the 2020 election cycle.

Ahead of the upcoming debate, both candidates accepted CNN's invitation to participate and have agreed to abide by the rules and formats outlined in letters sent by the network to their respective campaigns.

CNN shared some of the regulations that will be in place during the debate. There will be two commercial breaks, during which candidates will not be permitted to consult with other members of their campaign. The positioning of the candidates' podiums will be determined by a coin flip, and their microphones will be muted when it is not their turn to speak. The candidates will only be provided with a pen, a notepad, and a bottle of water, and they will not be allowed to bring props or prepared notes.

In a departure from tradition, there will be no studio audience present during the debate. The network emphasized that the moderators will employ all available means to ensure a civilized discussion and enforce timing.

Candidates must also meet the constitutional requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution to participate in the debate. Both Biden and Trump fulfill these requirements, as do the other candidates on non-major-party tickets, such as Kennedy, Cornel West, and Jill Stein. Additionally, all five contenders have filed a formal statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, another prerequisite for participating in the debate.

National polls sponsored by reputable organizations such as CNN, ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, Marquette University Law School, Monmouth University, NBC News, The New York Times/Siena College, NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist College, Quinnipiac University, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post will be used to determine candidates' eligibility.

With less than two weeks remaining until the debate, anticipation is mounting as the candidates prepare to face off in what is sure to be a crucial event in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.