This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Have you looked at who theyre voting for? Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party traditionally it is believed to help the Democrats at the expense of the other party, the GOP, said Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor. Postings about current events are fine, as long as there is a political science angle. As part of the weekly series MichMash, hosts Jake Neher Cheyna Roth talk about the cases for and against making Election Day a state holiday. In 2018, Pew Research found that 65% of voters surveyed supported Election Day being a national holiday. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. A subreddit to discuss political science. 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. Again, it is not clear that this is demonstrably true but it is a widespread perception. Both were senior officials in the Clinton administration. . The question remains: is such a holiday good public policy? So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. Last modified on October 1, 2020. Before that point, states could hold their presidential elections on any day within a certain 34-day window. It would give people time to vote. [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal holiday. Everyone will get equal opportunity to vote. One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. And if they get sick on Monday, the day before the election theyre not trying to get an emergency ballot, or something like that. Yes, its true Americas voting age is lower than some other developed countries. There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. 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. And the last thing that we want to do is not get someones ballot in because the postal service was closed down.. 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. 3. 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. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. 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. [31]. Plus, some experts say moving to weekend voting could substantially increase the cost of running elections. Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. ", ProCon.org. 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. Speaking on MichMash, she explainsthat one of her biggest concerns has to do with the post office. Is there any veracity to what this dude is claiming? The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. And that enabled us to essentially fill our needs of staffing the elections. 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. 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. Or are there other legitimate and logical reasons that may be preventing the Election Day from becoming a national holiday? Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. The dream of busy voting booths is the goal of House Democratic legislation to make Election Day a [+] federal holiday. Nationally in 2018, turnout was above 50%, with 35 million more voters than the previous midterm election in 2014. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. [8], Among registered voters in the 2016 US presidential election, being too busy or having a conflicting schedule was the third-highest reason cited for not voting, accounting for 14% of registered voters who did not cast a vote (about 2.7 million people). Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? OK, so why Tuesday? And what happens to be at the top of the list? The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Explain your answer. 2020, Virginia. 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. Other solutions would more reliably increase voter turnout than a national holiday. [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. Voter suppression policies need to be reversed, starting with restoring the pre-clearance provisions of the Civil Rights Act. Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. Election Day holiday: The bill would make Election Day a legal public holiday, making it easier for voters to get to the polls. Dont give the nation a day off, but do a better job of giving voters options for getting involved. In addition, those who wish to cast their ballots have ample opportunity to do so. Instead of having the names spelled out, voters would pick between Oje Diben and Noladd Rumpt.. That puts us behind countries like Australia, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which all have higher participation rates than the United States. Election Day Holiday., For purposes of any law relating to Federal employment, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2020 and each even-numbered year thereafter shall be treated in the same manner as a legal public holiday described in section 6103 of title 5, United States Code., It is the sense of Congress that private employers in the United States should give their employees a day off on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2020 and each even-numbered year thereafter to enable the employees to cast votes in the elections held on that day., Leave it to a House bill-writer to use 98 words when eight will suffice: Were giving you the day off to vote.. This simple change would make it easier for It deals with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and laws. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. 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. For purposes of any law relating to Federal employment, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2020 and each Explain your answers. Such a change would mostly benefit white-collar workers instead of the lower-income workers its designed to help. I believe Election Day should be a holiday so we can get our maximum participation, says Jacobs. Its a move that could de-politicize some of the election reform discussion, as some of the ideas could receivebipartisan support. WebAt the opening of Congress this past January, House Democrats introduced a proposal to make Election Day a national holiday. 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. This comes with complications that non-blue states might not like like allowing provisional ballots to be counted, a vote-counting that can be painfully slow (it takes California over a month to certify statewide election results). https://www.hoover.org/profiles/bill-whalen, federal holiday. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. Way too many Americans are voting already. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 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. Democratic rights are much easier to end than they are to restore, so the federal government must respond to the wave of voter suppression overtaking the states with decisive, expansive action. Dont believe me? You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Making Election Day a national holiday would turn voting into a celebration of democracy. Hey, you know who really has high voter turnout? How to Become the US President. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. While many countries hold national elections on holidays, Americans are at liberty to stay at home. 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? Okun's son is mentioned in this [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. If not, youre out. Archived post. 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. Making Election Day a national holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, includingMemorial Day,Independence Day, andChristmas Day. Making weekday elections a national holiday is a popular idea that would align the US with other countries. [26] Creating laws in all states that let people vote before or after work would be more effective than a national holiday, which would quickly be viewed as just another day off to enjoy. While these provisions represent major steps in the right direction, they are not enough. [36]. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among 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. 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 Partly cloudy skies. The ideal ballot would have the candidates in one alphabetical list on one side, and the offices they seek on the other. Election Day Holiday.. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. 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. [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. Its hard to say. Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. Last week his office released a list of voting rights provisions he would support. 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. 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 elections. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). 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. Over 60 court cases reviewed the evidence and judgesappointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents alikereached the same conclusion: there was no compelling evidence of fraud. Cookie Notice The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off. 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. All rights reserved. Its one of many sweeping changes she would like to see in stateelection law. 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. It needs better voters, people who have some vague notion of what theyre voting for or against, not just people practicing identity politics or voting with their political tribe. ProCon.org. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. Elections are federal holidays in Singapore, which, when combined with mandatory voting, resulted in a voter turnout of 93.6% for the 2015 election of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. [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. North Korea. In Texas, for instance, the deadline to register to vote for the You may opt-out by. 2. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. 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%). Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/election-day-national-holiday-top-3-pros-and-cons/, potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day, election day should not be a national holiday. To Feed His Ravenous Flock, Ron DeSantis Ignores the Real Problem With the Fed, The Flat Tax Revolution In State Capitals Is Thriving, Amazon Tax Subsidies Are Inefficient Job Creators, New Immigration Initiatives Promise Improvements In U.S. Migration From Southern Countries, Latest Biden Regulation Will Cause Massive Trouble For New Homebuyers, retired matadors and mathematical savants. If a right-wing cabal really is running a secret, suppress-the-vote operation, its the most inept conspiracy since Jussie Smollett and the Subway Sandwich Scam. 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. And who would get squeezed by the holiday? 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. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. And these two nuggets, stashed inside Section 1903. 11 . Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. 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. 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. For example, although most schools are closed anyway because theyre being used as polling places,not all of them are, which begs the question: If were going to be closing more schools and possibly daycares would that cause childcare problems that would actually make it harder for some people to vote? [16]. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. 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. Sweden came second with 82.6%. Allow people to register to vote AND vote on the same day. HR 1, also known as the For The People Act.. Could that ever happen in the U.S.? Overall, White adults are less likely to favor making Election Day a national holiday and automatically registering all eligible citizens to vote than are Black, Hispanic Her ideas include requiring a statewide risk-limiting audit of an elections results before the state certification,giving clerks more time ahead of Election Day to process ballots and banning open carry of firearms within 100 feet of polling locations. 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. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. So what are the odds of Election Day 2020 becoming a federal holiday (an idea Vermont Bernie Sanders was peddling back in 2015)? And she said there are lots of other ways to do that like early, in-person voting. Georgia had the 12th-highest turnout in the country in 2018, with 57% participation. We get about 20-25% of our absentee ballots come in on Election Day, says Barton. Approximately two million people who work 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. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? 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. Although state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) says she still supports the idea, but she says Im all-in on an all-of-the-above approach.. Funding by lobbyists is a big problem. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. 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. Lets get early in-person voting in place in Michigan, so that everyone has an opportunity that fits their schedule. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. "We do not have real political democracy, let alone economic democracy. Managing Editor As the chart shows, presidential turnout corresponds with midterm turnout and in 2018, turnout skyrocketed from 36.7% four years previously to 49.6%. The bill had zero co-sponsors and went Coronavirus: Timeline of Comments by Trump and Biden with Context. Protections for individuals with disabilities: The bill would address some of the biggest challenges to voting access that Americans with disabilities face. Others have suggested making Veterans Day (Nov. 11), which is already a paid national holiday, Election Day. In California, for example, theres now permanent voting by mail(voters can also go on line, after theyve submitted their ballot, to see if theyve been processed).

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