Would turnout go up if we didn't have to vote on a workday? Experts told CBS News that it's no coincidence this is occurring in a year when Americans have more time and more ways to vote than ever before. [12], The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday, according to Archon Fung, PhD, and Jane Mansbridge, PhD, professors at the Harvard Kennedy School. [ 18][ 19] Con 1 Consider this: Even if Election Day were moved to a weekend or turned into a national holiday, retail and service industry employees would still need to work. In a number of states, polling places have been closed in minority neighborhoods, which has created long lines and tremendous inconvenience for affected votersinconvenience with a cost, especially for those paid hourly wages. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who don't to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. 2. As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way . Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the . American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. Even among the nine weekday voting countries, South Korea's and Israel's voters take a day off work on the day of the election to ensure higher electoral participation. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. [15] A survey showed that US adults would rather have a federal holiday on Election Day than on Christmas Eve, the Friday after Thanksgiving, or St. Patricks day. ProCon.org. History of Election Day Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. 11 July (Tuesday): Celebration of the Golden Spurs (Day of the Flemish Community) - celebrates the victory of the count of Flanders and the borough militia against the king of France outside Courtrai. The COVID-19 pandemic convinced. February 26, 2023, 5:06 AM. First Sunday of July until 2018. According to Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus, Australia adopted compulsory voting in 1924 after turnout there dropped to less than 60 percent in 1922. [16]. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? procon@eb.com, 2022 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Turning Election Day into a national holiday would instill a sense of pride in all citizens, knowing they have the ability to cast a ballot regardless of work. Update: Some readers think that Ireland should also be considered an outlier, as St. Patrick's Day is often considered its primary "national day" and is not really an independence or revolution day. a list of voting rights provisions he would support. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Issues also arise when a persons polling place is far from their workplace or when there are long lines to vote during peak times like in the morning before work or in the evening after work. Image 2. [ 17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. Sundays are the most common day for elections, but this is less true in the Anglosphere; Saturdays are used in New Zealand and Australia, and weekdays for the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. The U.S. is one of only nine member nations that have weekday voting. I think, to the best of my knowledge, it's something like $20. Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. That too is a reminder as to how new many of the ideas from that century, such as full enfranchisement and national self-determination, really are. Exact date set by the. It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials. as well as other partner offers and accept our. For rest of the festival holidays the declaration . Monday in early September. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - The Atlantic Such low voter turnout rates in the United States have various reasons why many Americans decide not to vote, but one main reason is not giving them time to vote and cast their ballots. (And in case youre curious, November was chosen as the month for similar reasons: It was after fall harvest was over but before the cold winter weather set in.). Election Day is always the first Tuesday after November 1st. Election day - Wikipedia The Evolution of American Voting Rights in 242 Years Shows How Far Weve Come -- and How Far We Still Have to Go, businessinsider.com, Sep. 24, 2019, University of Houston Digital History, "Agriculture, digitalhistory.uh.edu (accessed Sep. 24, 2019), USDA, "Ag and Food Sectors and the Economy, ers.usda.gov, Sep. 20, 2019, Legal Information Institute, "5 U.S. Code 6103. And even if it were a federal holiday, that wouldn't ensure that all voting-age Americans would have the day off. The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits of a federal holiday are those who already struggle to vote, Shineman noted. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. He thinks the increased options afforded by early and mail-in voting could be undermined by making Election Day a holiday, creating "a solution in search of a problem.". It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil . Elections Held on Tuesdays?, britannica.com (accessed Sep. 30, 2019), Evan Andrews, "Election 1010: Why Do We Vote on a Tuesday in November?, history.com, Aug. 31, 2018, Grace Panetta and Olivia Reaney, "Today Is National Voter Registration Day. Obama Expresses Support For Making Election Day A National Holiday Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. 3. Understanding what happened in the Chicago mayoral race. A lot of people go to work, or they're in school during the weekday. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard Why not make Election Day a national holiday? - CBS News To make Election Day a national holiday, it would take an act of Congress, and so far, no bills proposing such action have passed. Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. Sign up to receive a weekly email update on forthcoming public holidays around the world in your inbox every Sunday. In fact, in Estonia, the option tovoteonlineis becoming increasingly popular. "Election day should be a national holiday" is a claim of policy because we are discussing a policy which searches a solution for the presented argument. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [36]. In 2007, the country held the world's first general Internet election. However, the issues vary among different demographic groups. The correct answer is B. Advertisement Advertisement marberman marberman Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. Australia sees around 91%, and 94% in Singapore. Establishing Election Day as a holiday, taken together with the pending federal voting rights reforms, would go a long way towards stabilizing democracy and ensuring basic democratic rights. All this despite the fact that these types of restrictions have typically been considered illegal under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires that elections be equally open to all people. 14, 2019, BBC, "Singapore Election: Governing Party Secure Decisive Win, bbc.com, Sep. 12, 2015, Holly Jackson, "It's Time to Make Election Day a Holiday in Law and Spirit," washingtonpost.com, Oct. 22, 2018, BCP Associates, "India Elections 2019 - Declaration of Paid Holiday on Polling Day, bcpassociates.com, Apr. the Tuesday that occurs within November 2 to November 8. Most others are not so recent, but still not so old: Taiwan's, for example, goes back to a 1911 uprising. Granderson: Why aren't Democrats making election day a state holiday The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. There's nothing that would stop voters here from treating a Democracy Day like just another day off.". But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Election Day should be a holiday for workers in the United States, President Joe Biden said on Thursday. Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. 2) Most other countries are shaped by relatively recent revolutions. John M. Cunningham, "Why Are U.S. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. In Australia, all citizens of age to vote are required, and if they fail to do so, they face fines. Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. These include national, state, and local government representatives at all levels up to the president. 3. [14][35] In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbeques nationwide, resulting in turnout rates around 90%. Four more states only provide time off for biennial, even-year elections: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan and New Hampshire. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. 20, 2018, Annie McDonald, "Ensuring Access to Election Day for All, bppj.berkely.edu, Nov. 6, 2018, Suzanne Lucas, "No, Election Day Should Not Be a Federal Holiday, inc.com, Oct. 24, 2016, Kenneth Quinnell, "Know Your Rights: State Laws on Employee Time off to Vote, aflicio.org, Nov. 5, 2016, Osita Nwanevu, "Maybe Making Election Day a National Holiday Wouldnt Really Work, slate.com, Nov. 3, 2016, Abigail Hess, "A Record 44% of US Employers Will Give Their Workers Paid Time off to Vote This Year, cnbc.com, Oct. 31, 2018, Make Time to Vote, homepage, maketimetovote.org (accessed Sep. 24, 2019), Rose Marcario, "Time to Vote, patagonia.com, Sep. 24, 2018, Danielle Root and Liz Kennedy, "Increasing Voter Participation in America, americanprogress.org, July 11, 2018, Kelly Born, "Increasing Voter Turnout: What, If Anything, Can Be Done?, ssir.org, Apr. Theyare still considerably higher than in the United States, which typically sees about 65% on average turn out to vote for major elections. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Arizona, for example, allows employees who do not have three consecutive hours before or after work when the polls are open to take paid time off to vote at the start or end of their work days. Interestingly, 27 of the 36 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (made up largely of advanced democracies) conduct their national elections on the weekend. Skip Navigation It would give people time to vote. It happens to be on the day the politicians themselves get elected. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. Make Election Day a national holiday - Brookings Think about that: In most of the world, the sense of national identity is shaped by the act of cutting, or in some cases violently throwing off, the chains of colonialism. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. Updated: 7:01 AM EST November 2, 2020 ATLANTA For many Americans, voting on Election Day is a tradition, and some wonder why it's not a national holiday. It was created in 1992,. Election Day National Holiday - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org Is Election Day a federal holiday? Is Election Day a Holiday in Your State? | RepresentUs While the majority of US states have voter leave laws that guarantee certain employees a modicum of time off to vote, no federal law currently mandates that employees get time off to cast their ballots. As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. Britain, after all, developed its political institutions pretty gradually, so there was no real "Bastille Day" moment that defines the modern nation. National and Festival Holiday Act, which is applicable to all establishments in the country, irrespective of under which law it is formed it is mandatory to grant leave on following 3 days, i.e. Managing Editor "With the variety of challenges that election officials face, [making Election Day a holiday] is well down on the list of those things that need to be addressed," Becker said. Should Election Day in the U.S. be a national holiday? In previous elections, that percentage was even higher. Meanwhile, in Macedonia this past September, voters chose to stay away from the polls because of the proposed name change for the country. According to the Pew Research Center, of the thirty-six nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. is one of nine that votes on a week day, and one of seven that doesn't designate election day a national holiday. But some think it should be. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the other side of the issue now helps you better argue your position. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. The bill would also effectively revive Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which requires states with a history of voter discrimination have all changes to their election laws approved by the federal government, updating the law in response to the Supreme Courts 2013 holding in Shelby County v. Holder. This article is about the general term "election day" worldwide. 27 September (Wednesday): Day of the French-speaking Community - commemorates the victory of the patriots against the Dutch army in Brussels in 1830. It would also blunt the impact of many of these baldly anti-democratic movesopening the doors to the house as Republicans attempt to shut the windows. [9], Former Editor-in-Chief of the Northwestern University Law Review, Beau C. Tremitiere, JD, stated, The demands of school and work schedules keep millions of Americans, especially those with children or long commutes, from ever getting to their polling stations The ideal solution is simple: Congress should make Election Day a national holiday, or move Election Day to the weekend. [10] A holiday would allow more citizens volunteer at polling places or drive the elderly to vote, and make a difference in states where long lines at the polls keep voters waiting for hours. People literally cannot get to the polling booth because it may close at 7 o'clock and they're working later. With just about six in 10 voters turning out to vote in the U.S., some civil rights advocates are arguing that it's about time to give Americans the day off to vote.
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