If you make election day a federal holiday, youll have all the people who work in these types of jobs still having to work, being inundated with customers who have the day off and they wont have child care because the schools will be closed, Suzanne Lucas, who previously worked in human resources, wrote in a piece for Inc.com. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Carlson calls on Minnesotans to oppose sulfide mining, Local View: The stories of spring, other seasons, play out in the night sky, In Response: Expensive or not, Minnesota a good place to do business, The beginning of the rest of their lives: Powwow recognizes Fond du Lac graduates and more, Lake Superior Medical Equipment relocates to West Duluth after fire, Minnesota DNR, feds sign agreement over logging in wildlife areas, Special Olympics return to Northland after 3 years. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? 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. 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. Yes, its true Americas voting age is lower than some other developed countries. 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. The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States. As the chart shows, presidential turnout corresponds with midterm turnout and in 2018, turnout skyrocketed from 36.7% four years previously to 49.6%. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. 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. In 2018, Pew Research found that 65% of voters surveyed supported Election Day being a national holiday. And that enabled us to essentially fill our needs of staffing the elections. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do. It was a modern record for the Peach State. Really? Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This past year, we were able to make it work through sports teams and other businesses that stepped up, gave their employees the day off, made it a holiday internally, says Benson. Bensons proposal would make Election Day a state holiday, not a national holiday. 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. Part of HuffPost Home & Living. Speaking on MichMash, she explainsthat one of her biggest concerns has to do with the post office. 2. 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. Lets assume there wont be an election holiday anytime soon not until Democrats control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. Say goodbye to making Election Day a federal holiday and other Privacy Policy. Should Every Election Day Be A Federal Holiday? - Forbes [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. An additional day off school would prove to be problematic for individuals who may not have other readily accessible forms of childcare. [24], People who have already suffered significant disenfranchisement, such as women and people of color, are more likely to be working those low-income jobs that wouldnt get the time off to vote even on a national holiday. [31]. 10 . Even some Democrats are saying that it could have unintended consequences. Examine this opinion article from Evil HR Lady Suzanne Lucas on why election day should not be a national holiday. Republicans and Democrats Move Further Apart in Views of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a state holiday, but some worry about unintended consequences. But making Election Day a holiday because you want to increase voter turnout? Partly cloudy skies. Not useful if people have strong opinions. Election Day as a holiday is something that exists in other countries, but not in most places inthe U.S. Its an issue that comes up a lot, but never really gets much serious public debate. 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%). If changes need to be made nationally, those changes should relate to job security and compensation. Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria Meet In Moscow: Whats Afoot? 2. According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? Why isn't Election Day a national holiday in the US? - KSDK 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. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. That year, just over 36% of eligible voters showed up. Please make a gift today. Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. And so, this would actually make it even easier and validate businesses to give their employees the day off so that they can work the elections and serve as election workers.. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Explore which countries have weekend voting with Pew Research. ", ProCon.org. Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. Election Day be a National Holiday in the U.S 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. Effectiveness depends on the region. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue-collar workers. Way too many Americans are voting already. I believe Election Day should be a holiday so we can get our maximum participation, says Jacobs. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Have you looked at who theyre voting for? Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. (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. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. Nationally in 2018, turnout was above 50%, with 35 million more voters than the previous midterm election in 2014. She's also done some online freelancing and worked on documentary films. 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. Sweden came second with 82.6%. A subreddit to discuss political science. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. The entire voter suppression conspiracy being advanced by progressives is nonsense on its face. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. Proponents of automatic voter registration say the policy removes barriers to registration for eligible voters, a step toward increasing voter participation. Veterans Day typically is about one week after Election Day so this would involve little disruption in terms of job schedules and monthly routines. WebAt the opening of Congress this past January, House Democrats introduced a proposal to make Election Day a national holiday. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. I invite you to follow me onTwitter:@hooverwhalen, This is a BETA experience. Political science is the scientific study of politics. Dont give the nation a day off, but do a better job of giving voters options for getting involved. 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. WebMore people would vote if Election Day was a national holiday. 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. . She says thats especially important right now with more voters casting absentee ballots. Managing Editor Benson also emphasized the preeminence that she says Election Day should have in our culture, that it should be a day of celebration of our civic duty to elect our leaders a celebration of democracy at a time when democracy is under real threat. WebElection Day National Holiday; Electoral College; Lowering the Voting Age to 16; Voting Machines; Ronald Reagan; Bill Clinton; Election Day National Holiday: Top 3 Pros and Cons. But other solutions would more reliably increase turnout. Postings about current events are fine, as long as there is a political science angle. So, no, please dont make Election Day a holiday. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Over time, voting rights expanded from only white, male landowners age 21 and older to includewomenandpeople of color, as well as citizensage 18 and up, resulting in a dramatic increase in the voting-eligible population and a shift in voter demographics. 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 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. Whether the voter has to go to office or has an important meeting, they may not be able to find any excuse to miss the voting procedure if election day is declared as a national holiday. Before that point, states could hold their presidential elections on any day within a certain 34-day window. How to Become the US President. Making Election Day a national holiday would turn voting into a celebration of democracy. 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 In fact, these voters may be more likely to have to work as a result of a federal election holiday, where they may have had time off previously on a random Tuesday in November. Dont believe me? 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 No: Too Inconvenient, Early-Voting Options Ample, orlandosentinel.com, Nov. 5, 2018, Henry Farber, "Increasing Voter Turnout: Is Democracy Day the Answer?, princeton.edu, Feb. 2009, Sarah Issenberg, "The Mystery of the Puerto Rico Voter, slate.com, Jan. 27, 2012, Paul LeBlanc, "Virginia Governor Makes Election Day a Holiday and Expands Early Voting,". That puts us behind countries like Australia, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which all have higher participation rates than the United States. We get about 20-25% of our absentee ballots come in on Election Day, says Barton. While there are a lot of positives to creating a new national holiday, there are also some negatives. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. If that level of participation gnaws at you, then consider: turnout for UKs Brexit vote was a shade over 77%; while 67.9% of the French electorate turned out for 2017s presidential election. [10][11]] Try lower-wage earners at restaurants and stores enterprises that would look to cash in if the working class got an extra day off. 11 . WebProCon.org - Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues Kneeling during National Anthem US Presidents on Money PROS AND CONS OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES PROCON.ORG HEADLINES - Our Issues in the News Are DACA and the DREAM Act Good for America? Incidentally, Australia routinely reaches more than 90 percent voter turnout, compared to the United States, where average voter turnout in presidential elections since 1965 has been only 54%. Make Election Day a federal holiday. Local View: Former Gov. One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, includingMemorial Day,Independence Day, andChristmas Day. Also, would a holiday mean limited public transit schedules, which might make it harder for some people to get to the polls? Approximately two million people who work @TinaLBarton gave me some good insight that caused me to reconsider my bill that would have done just that. Countries that have weekend or holiday elections do tend to have better turnout overall. HR 1, also known as the For The People Act.. On WDETs Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson, Benson emphasized that making Election Day a holiday would make it easier toattractmore election workers. Other solutions would more reliably increase voter turnout than a national holiday. [27], Companies including Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Patagonia, and Walmart have joined Make Time to Vote campaign, which encourages employers to provide paid time off, schedule no meetings on Election Day, and give information on mail-in ballots and early voting. Holidays, law.cornell.edu (accessed Sep. 30, 2019), Matthew Haag, "Mitch McConnell Calls Push to Make Election Day a Holiday a Democratic Power Grab," nytimes.com, Jan. 31, 2019, Drew DeSilver, "U.S. Trails Most Developed Countries in Voter Turnout, pewresearch.org, May 21, 2018, Gustavo Lpez and Antonio Flores, "Dislike of Candidates or Campaign Issues Was Most Common Reason for Not Voting in 2016, pewresearch.org, June 1, 2017, Beau C. Tremitiere, "Election Day Should Be a National Holiday, cnbc.com, July 5, 2016, York Dispatch Editorial Board, "Editorial: On Voting, GOP Takes a Holiday from its Senses, yorkdispatch.com, Feb. 1, 2019, Tacey Rychter, "How Compulsory Voting Works: Australians Explain," nytimes.com, Nov. 5, 2018, Archon Fung and Jane Mansbridge, "Lets Vote, Party and Celebrate American Democracy on a New Holiday Called Citizen Day, usatoday.com, Oct. 26, 2018, Thomas MacMillan, "This Might Be the Best Idea for Turning out More Voters in U.S. Elections, nymag.com, July 8, 2017, Drew Desilver, "Weekday Elections Set the U.S. apart from Many Other Advanced Democracies, pewresearch.org, Nov. 6, 2018, Kathy Frankovic, "St. Patricks Day Not So Popular - Americans Would Rather Election Day a Holiday, today.yougov.com, Mar. In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. WebPro: making election day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. 14 . 12 . 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. The ideal ballot would have the candidates in one alphabetical list on one side, and the offices they seek on the other. [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal holiday. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. Pros and Cons of making election day a national holiday 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. Its one of many sweeping changes she would like to see in stateelection law. an important step in ensuring the right to vote for all Americans and stabilizing democracy. Pro/Con: Make Election Day a holiday along with Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 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. PRO/Con: Should Election Day be a federal holiday? Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. We would put in place automatic voter registration, same-day registration, extended voting days, Election Day as a National Holiday, and other reforms, including mandatory voting (vote or pay a moderate fine) as practiced in Australia, Belgium, and much of Latin America, with a None of the Above option that would trigger a new election if it wins. 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. Voter suppression policies need to be reversed, starting with restoring the pre-clearance provisions of the Civil Rights Act. 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. The United States is out of step with the rest of the world: elections are held on weekends in 27 of the 36 OECD countries. A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. However, it gives voters the choice of not having to detour from their routines on Election Day. Change often comes slowly, subtly. Both were senior officials in the Clinton administration. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Allow people to register to vote AND vote on the same day. Whether that be through the mail, or people drop them off in person. [16]. Not me. https://www.hoover.org/profiles/bill-whalen, federal holiday. Colleges should have already canceled Election Day classes. You may opt-out by. 12, 2019, Ceylan Pumphrey, "Do Businesses Have to Give Federal Holidays Like Presidents Day Off?, blogs.findlaw.com, Feb. 14, 2018, Department of Labor, "Holiday Pay, dol.gov (accessed Sep. 23, 2019), Peggy Emch, "Is Holiday Pay Required by Law?, timesheets.com, 2013, Fast Casual, "Study: Why Hourly Workers Forced to Work Multiple Jobs, fastcasual.com, Apr. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election Day a national holiday, OKLAHOMA WATCH: For tenants behind on rent, ant, Armstrong Bank appoints Aston Armstrong Hudson , OKLAHOMA WATCH: School report cards released, b, Keys secure Districts sweep against Colgate, Doctor accused of killing nurse released on bond, Man accused of sexting minor to appear in court, Business owner accused of obstructing an officer has undisclosed offer revised, EVERYDAY HEROES: Photog overcomes challenges to earn degree, BERRY BEST TIME: Strawberry growers in Adair County start selling crop, Man accused of killing three people denied demand for admissibility hearing, Man charged with murder of deputys daughter pleads not guilty, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DOWNTOWN TAHLEQUAH: 2023 RED FERN FESTIVAL. The measure contains an election-reform bushelful of liberal chestnuts same-day voter registration, provisional ballots, poll worker recruitment and training. What America needs isnt more voters. For example, Australia typically has a turnout in the 90 percent or more range, and other nations such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico achieve very high turnout via universal voting and time off for voting. Compulsory voting. Giving people the day to vote would be the first public holiday in the United States. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. Pew Research Center found 71 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans support that. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [2] 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. 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. Its time to make voting harder. While no state has proposed reinstating the literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses that effectively ended the burst of African-American franchise during Reconstruction, todays efforts to disenfranchise minority voters are similarly unsubtle. Benson is dreaming big, and in doing so shes getting out in front of a lot of the conspiracy fueled calls for election reform from some Republicans. Lets look at why Congress has never made Election Day a The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday. We see that you have javascript disabled. You have permission to edit this article. Should the Guantnamo Bay Detention Center Remain Open? More people would vote if they had more time to cast their ballots Furthermore, celebrating our democracy publicly would send the message that we value each others citizenship as much as we value honoring past presidents. [13], Donald Green, PhD, Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, found that nonpartisan community parties celebrating Election Day in 2005, 2006, and 2016 increased voter participation between 2.6 percentage points and about 4 percentage points. In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. The answer dates back to 1845, when Congress passed a law declaring that federal elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. And if they get sick on Monday, the day before the election theyre not trying to get an emergency ballot, or something like that. [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. What are the pros and cons of making Election Day a national Veterans deserve a day that stands on its own without the distractions that come with arriving at the polls and casting votes. Nations like Israel and South Korea make election day a national holiday and have voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is significantly higher than that of the US. Move past the theatrics of the government shutdown, impeachment and the threat of investigations ad infinitumand theres the question of Democrat squad goals in a Pelosi-run House of Representatives. Michael Graham is political editor at InsideSources.com. Freedom to Vote Act Election Day in the United States has occurred on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ever since PresidentJohn Tylersigned an 1845 law establishing a specific voting day for the entire country.

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