The Commission on Presidential Debates describes itself as being “established to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners.”

Well, then. That means that this gatekeeper of presidential debate participation should allow Libertarian Gary Johnson to participate. Even if Johnson does not reach the average 15 percent support in the five mainstream polls that the CPD relies upon to determine eligibility, his participation would help voters get the “best possible information” from candidates and very likely spare debate watchers the vicious, and potentially vacuous, back-and-forth that Trump/Clinton debates could present voters.

The Commission on Presidential Debates is independent and has ensured for almost 30 years that leading candidates engage in public debate, but its creation came out of a two-party system. Its threshold for candidate participation has made sense for trying to limit stage time to the candidates — except for 1992, always two of them — who have a legitimate chance in an election.

But this is an unusual election season. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have “unfavorable” Gallup-poll ratings higher by far than any candidate’s ratings in 60 years. According to RealClear Politics, Clinton is viewed unfavorably by an average of 55.3 percent of respondents in eight recent polls. Trump is viewed unfavorably by an average of 58.6 percent in those polls.

And while Johnson is polling below 15 percent — reaching that number in only a couple of states — 62 percent of respondents in a recent Quinnipiac University poll said they think Johnson should be included in this year’s presidential debates, and that includes majorities of Republican and Democratic respondents.

Whether or not they think Johnson has a chance at winning this election, Americans who are fed up with what they are seeing from the two major party candidates clearly want to hear what the Libertarian candidate has to say, and the commission that puts on debates should listen to them.

Voters should not be forced to watch debates only between an egotistical loose cannon and a secretive, truth-challenged insider. Yes, Gary Johnson brings his own problems (Aleppo?), but this election season more than any in memory, Americans deserve to hear a third voice.