The first of three presidential debates of the 2012 elections will be from 8 to 9:30 p.m. CST Wednesday at the University of Denver in Denver. The event will be broadcast on all local channels and most major news networks. Jim Lehrer, executive editor of “PBS NewsHour,” will moderate the debate.

Covering domestic policy, the debate is broken up into six 15-minute segments. Each segment will contain a separate issue, giving the moderator time to ask the question and each candidate two minutes to respond. The remainder of the time will be allotted to discussion of the topic.

The issues selected by Lehrer to be covered during the debate include: the economy, health care and the role of the government.

Future debates are scheduled for Oct. 16, which will be a town-hall style meeting covering domestic and foreign policy; and for Oct. 22, to discuss foreign policy exclusively. There will also be a vice-presidential debate Oct. 11.