Should the U.S. Make Election Day a National Holiday? - Ask.com A 2018 Pew survey found that the majority of Americans (65%) would be in favor of turning Election Day into a national holiday that includes 71% of Democratic-leaning voters and 59% of Republican-leaning voters. Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. make Election Day By registering through a routine and necessary transaction such as those at the DMV, voters wont have to worry about registration deadlines or application submissions. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.procon.org/should-election-day-be-a-national-holiday/. Last week his office released a list of voting rights provisions he would support. The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits of a federal holiday are those who already struggle to vote, Shineman noted. In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 One example: if its a holiday, kids are home from schoolmaking it much harder for parents to have time to get to the polls. 2020, Virginia. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. Countries that have weekend or holiday elections do tend to have better turnout overall. Compulsory voting. The decision was made taking into account farmers, a large portion of the voting constituency at the time, who would not have been able to travel to polling places in winter months or during planting or harvest times. Allow people to register to vote AND vote on the same day. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. North Korea. There was a Reddit comment saying that the only reason Republicans oppose Election Day being a national holiday is because it'll result in a higher turnout, which would almost completely ensure the Democrats will win for the foresable future. Its one of many sweeping changes she would like to see in stateelection law. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? America is walking the knifes edge between maintaining and losing democracy. Tina Barton, a Republican Rochester Hills City Clerk has a lot of those questions, and more. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. Election Day Folks who follow the news and keep up with current events sometimes forget theyre in the minority. In true American fashion, I say we take the day off, cast our votes, then stock up the ice chests with beer, fire up and thaw out the grill, gather with friends and neighbors while we argue and/or celebrate the individual we choose as commander in chief for the next four years. Colleges should have already canceled Election Day classes. 2. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, includingMemorial Day,Independence Day, andChristmas Day. John M. Cunningham, "Why Are U.S. In India, for example, a polling place is required within two kilometers (about a mile) of every single person in the country of 1.4 billion. Not everyone is jumping at the idea of making Election Day a state holiday, however. ProCon.org. Sweden came second with 82.6%. Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico receive high voter turnout due to universal voting and time off. Today, of course, holding the election on the first Tuesday of the month is deeply inconvenient for the vast majority of Americans, whether they work in an office, in food service, or on a farm, as they did in the olden days. Veterans deserve a day that stands on its own without the distractions that come with arriving at the polls and casting votes. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. These changes would send a strong rebuke to those who are attempting to scale back voting rights and make it more difficult for African-Americans and Latinos to vote. It was a modern record for the Peach State. 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. Rationality and coherent argument are encouraged, whereas ideological flamewars are strongly discouraged. Thats not to say no one has tried. Also, would a holiday mean limited public transit schedules, which might make it harder for some people to get to the polls? Ralph Northam signed a bill on Sunday making Election Day a state holiday with the intention of making it easier for voters to cast their ballots in Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard The ideal ballot would have the candidates in one alphabetical list on one side, and the offices they seek on the other. Creating laws in all states that let people vote before or after work would be more effective than a holiday. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 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. 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. Caravans are joyful, noisy parades of cars festooned with flags and other decorations that stream through the streets ahead of an election and are credited with the islands over 80 percent turnout. OK, so why Tuesday? Bartons concerns about the possible unintended consequences of an Election Day holiday haveled a Democratic sponsor of legislation to create the holiday to reconsider her bill. If you can draw a line between Donald Trump and President, your vote counts. Sundays were for rest and worship, and on Wednesdays farmers typically sold their crops at the market, making Tuesdays the best day of the week. He concluded that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout. [34], Automatic voter registration, by contrast, could register an additional 22 million people and create 7.9 million new voters nationwide within a year. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. As Congress continues to grapple with voting rights legislation this week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has used his considerable influence as the Senates key swing vote to set the terms of the debate. Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. Yes, its true Americas voting age is lower than some other developed countries. CON. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. @TinaLBarton gave me some good insight that caused me to reconsider my bill that would have done just that. Election Day in the United States is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of an election year. In the 2016 presidential election, 14% of registered voters cited being too busy or having a conflicting schedule as the main reason they didnt cast their ballots, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data. Election Day could be made a federal holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. As of mid-May Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills that would reduce the hours polls are open; forbid people from eating or drinking while waiting in line to vote; close voter registration on Sundays, when Black churches traditionally have organized their members to register and vote; repeal no excuse absentee voting; and create a long list of other barriers to voting. I feel the commenter's central thesis is that there are way more Dems in the US then Repubels. Effectiveness depends on the region. [16]. There is a simple and straightforward solution: make Election Day a national holiday so that people have the time and freedom to vote without taking time off from work. If 118 million people did it in 2018 without a holiday, why do we need to shut down the post office and close the banks to get them to do it again? Dont believe me? HR 1, also known as the For The People Act.. And it will, in turn, help strengthen the idea that businesses can and will come together for a worthy common purpose: protecting our democracy by empowering all American workers to be good citizens. [30], Solutions such as automatic voter registration, same-day registration, early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, restoring voting rights to former felons, improved civics education, and voter outreach would all improve voter participation more reliably than a national holiday. Others have suggested making Veterans Day (Nov. 11), which is already a paid national holiday, Election Day. [31] Same-day registration boosts turnout by 5%, and universal implementation of it would have added as many as 4.8 million voters in the 2016 election, according to Danielle Root, JD, and Liz Kennedy, JD, from the Center for American Progress. Pew Research Center found 71 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans support that. [20][21][22] A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off for a national holiday. When turnout is high, it becomes increasingly fruitless for politicians to play to their base in ways that allow a vocal minority to rule, which is how many American leaders currently operate. 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 work days. While Barton isnt for or against making Election Day a holiday, one thing she is definitely on board with is getting more people to vote. [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal holiday. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard Its hard to say. Please make a gift today. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. Making Election Day a national holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers. The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday. As shown in this Fair Vote chart, turnout ebbs and flows in presidential cycles elections a big falloff from 1992 to 1996 (58.1% vs. 51.7%), then a steady rise through 2008 (61.6%) followed by another drop in 2012 (58.2%) and then a return to 60.1% in 2016. a list of voting rights provisions he would support, Congress in 2019: The need for bipartisan action on voting rights and election integrity, Voting rights, the next Attorney General, and a less divided America, Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills, Generational change divides GOP, unites Democrats. Election Day holiday: The bill would make Election Day a legal public holiday, making it easier for voters to get to the polls. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. This year, more than 30 million Americans had already voted two weeks before todays Election Day an electoral surge never seen before. Waste of money. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. It deals with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and laws. Scan this QR code to download the app now. That nations turnout in 2017s national election was only 46%(you want to get the Swiss fired up, put a contentious idea in front of them a vote vote tojoin the EEA in 1992brought out 79%; the 2016 vote todeport foreign criminals, 63%). Local View: Former Gov. Low 38F. Count me out. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? Why isn't Election Day a national holiday in the US? - KSDK Pros & Cons Of Election Campaigns Marshall is an attorney in Washington and Okun is a corporate strategic advisor in Singapore for McLarty Associates. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? would align the US with other countries It would only make it harder and more expensive for all candidates to have a fair shot at competing. So, no, please dont make Election Day a holiday. Both were senior officials in the Clinton administration. Virginia Gov. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. WebElection Day could be made a federal holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Explain your answers. The proposal to make Election Day a federal holiday is just one of a number of steps that could be taken to improve low turnout for U.S. elections. It would give people time to vote. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. Lets assume there wont be an election holiday anytime soon not until Democrats control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. List two to three ways. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions which Americans see not only as propping up their democracy but perpetuating its legitimacy, he said. Devin Gordon is a Tahlequah business owner. Other solutions would more reliably Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg), Controversial Program Could Diminish NASAs Credibility And Its Federal Funding, Shelter From A Storm: Protecting The Housing Market From Itself. Not useful if people have strong opinions. Would you have to pay all levels of election workers holiday pay, which would make administering elections more expensive? Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a state holiday, but some worry about unintended consequences. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. National Election Day rolls around every four years and falls on the first Tuesday in November. 5. Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries. In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbecues, resulting in turnout rates around 90 percent. While making Election Day a national holiday or moving it to the weekend would by no means be a cure-all, it could be used in conjunction with other strategies like automatic voter registration (nearly 87% of registered voters participated in the 2016 election), restoring voting rights for formerly incarcerated people and removing other barriers such as voter ID requirements and voter roll purges that often disenfranchise people of color. Why or why not? [33], Henry Farber, PhD, Hughes-Rogers Professor of Economics at Princeton University, conducted an analysis of states that made Election Day a holiday for state employees. Making weekday elections a national holiday is a popular idea that would align the US with other countries. You have permission to edit this article. Twelve federal holidays are recognized each year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washingtons Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. However, it gives voters the choice of not having to detour from their routines on Election Day. ", ProCon.org. Low 38F. You may opt-out by. What then to do about American elections? Election Day Holiday.. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-election-day-holiday. Making Election Day a holiday would not necessarily involve adding a new holiday, which employers might resistparticularly following the addition of Juneteenth as a national holiday last week. Pro/Con: Make Election Day a holiday along with According to the U.S. Census Bureaus data on nonvoters, registered voters from households making more than $150,000 are most likely to say they dont have time to turn out on Election Day. [1] The decision was made taking into account farmers, a large portion of the voting constituency at the time, who would not have been able to travel to polling places in winter months or during planting or harvest times. Voter turnout in the U.S. is generally quite low, trailing behind that of other developed democracies around the world, according to another Pew study. According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. It does not force voters to elect any one candidate and therefore, we believe, it survives constitutional muster. 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. Winds light and variable.. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. Top Issues for Voters. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party at the expense of the other party.. Jake Neher is senior producer for Detroit Today and host of MichMash for 101.9 WDET. Examine this opinion article from Evil HR Lady Suzanne Lucas on why election day should not be a national holiday. A National In 2016, there were about 245 million Americans 18 and older, according to Pew Research, and only 56% of them voted in the Donald-Trump-vs.-Hillary-Clinton throwdown. Try lower-wage earners at restaurants and stores enterprises that would look to cash in if the working class got an extra day off. But this arrangement began to raise concerns as travel and communication improved in the 19th century: Results from states that voted earlier could sway the outcome in states that voted later. There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. If youre rushing to the polls to cast your vote to stop the forces of QAnon or because you seriously believe the same Republican Party that ended slavery wants to bring it back, please stay home. And she said there are lots of other ways to do that like early, in-person voting. For more information, please see our A subreddit to discuss political science. All Rights Reserved. Whether that be through the mail, or people drop them off in person. Automatic Voter Registration Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? Cons: Private employers are not required to give their employees federal holidays anyways. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. Nationally in 2018, turnout was above 50%, with 35 million more voters than the previous midterm election in 2014. People of color and low-income Americans already face barriers to vote, and making Election Day a national holiday may not help them. He previously reported on the Michigan Legislature for the Michigan Public Radio Network. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related.
pros and cons of making election day a national holiday
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