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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. [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. As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. Would Making Election Day a Federal Holiday Boost U.S. Voter Turnout "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday. National Holiday Act in India - Laws for Festival, Public Holidays Right now, federal elections are always held on Tuesdays, because farmers in the 1840s needed multiple days to get to the . [31]. While young people are generally less likely to vote, they are more motivated by the issue of freedom of speech than older generations. "While this would not be a cure-all, it would indicate a national commitment to create a more vibrant democracy.". Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. 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. 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%. Where Is Election Day a Holiday? - Ms. Magazine 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. #FridayNight | #FridayNight | By Citizen TV Kenya - Facebook It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. Of these countries, 27 hold their national elections on a weekend. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. Over the course of three days, Estonians could vote by placing their state-issued ID cards (which have an electronic chip . And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. Roughly 138 million Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election, just 61.4% of the 214,109,360 million who were registered to vote, according to The U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In some states where they don't have mail-in ballots, voting can take a lot of time out of the day. After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those countries. And the empire has been pretty consistently breaking apart over the last half century Scotland is maybe next so it's not like there is a national unification to celebrate. Incidentally, Australia routinely reaches more than 90. Is Election Day a Federal Holiday? - Newsweek Pew also found that certain issues motivate voters more than others: "health care, poverty and education are the top motivators for political engagement." 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. With those options early in-person voting and more voter awareness on how to vote by mail voter turnout appears to be trending upward. American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. While the Republican efforts are shrouded in their supposed desire to protect the integrity of elections, there is no evidence of significant voter fraud in recent elections, including presidential election in 2020. 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. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. Should election day in the United States be made a national 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. Israel and South Korea hold their elections on weekdays, but they're national holidays. Should the United States use the Electoral College in presidential elections? And so while it's very understandable that people are trying to find ways to make it more convenient for people to vote, it's very likely that Election Day as a national holiday would actually hurt the voters who most need more options," Becker said. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. 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. List two to three ways. Election day - Wikipedia 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. "If I had my way, and I think it is really important, every . It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil . Some countries, about 27 of them,make voting compulsory. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who don't to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Traditionally on weekends. With Juneteenth now a national holiday, could Election Day and 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. ", Others, however, are skeptical that creating a national holiday would increase voter turnout. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. 3) Britain and Denmark have no national days. But some think it should be. Why not make Election Day a national holiday? - CBS News A large Democratic voting rights bill that would have made Election Day a national holiday collapsed in the Senate this year when two senators refused to join their own party in changing. Election Day in USA in 2023 | Office Holidays Concentrating voters into a single day risks congesting polling places, even more so than some already are. Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be. 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. Third Monday of October every four years, or after Parliament is dissolved by the. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday.However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote; this year, a staggering 47.5%participated in the midterms, compared to 37% in 2014 and 41% in 2010, the years of other midterm elections. 2) Most other countries are shaped by relatively recent revolutions. But none of those states have considerably high turnout compared to those where it isn't a holiday. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Like Perez, Becker thinks giving voters more time and opportunity to vote is the best approach. Will the party listen to them on the issues? We are the only advanced democracy that makes it deliberately difficult for people to vote. Should Election Day in the U.S. be a national holiday? Sunday: the second Sunday of March for Congress, and the second Sunday of May for President and Vice President. "Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Sanders' website reads. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue . "And we actually have more options than ever before.". [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. The U.S. lags scores of other countries in election participation, ranking 26th out of 32 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the Pew Research Center. Where is Election Day a holiday? - The Fulcrum Such a change would mostly benefit white-collar workers instead of the lower-income workers its designed to help. [6] Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. In Switzerland, only one canton (or member state) requires voting; it is voluntary all other cantons of the country. According to Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus, Australia adopted compulsory voting in 1924 after turnout there dropped to less than 60 percent in 1922. [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. 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. Elections to the European Parliament take place over a period of four days (i.e., Thursday through to Sunday), according to the election days of the EU members states (as listed above). South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. For other uses, see. 2. In many other democracies around the world, national elections are held on the weekend or are a federal holiday. The U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. Delaware Hawaii Kentucky Louisiana Montana New Jersey New York Ohio Puerto Rico Virginia West Virginia While Tuesdays have been custom for elections in the United States, Sunday is the day of. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? - HuffPost However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. Why isn't Election Day a national holiday yet? - CNN 1. Canada's turnout is about the same as the United States', with an average of 68%, and though one canton in Switzerland has a compulsory voting law, for the country as a whole turnout is around 49%, one of the lowest rates in OECD countries. Newsela | Should Election Day become a national holiday? [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). Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. The ideal solution is simple: Congress should make Election Day a national holiday, or move Election Day to the weekend. Regional Belgian public holidays during 2023. Saudi Arabia's marks the 1932 unification of the country. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. It worked. It's amazing how much of the map is green, indicating countries that celebrate a national independence day every year. Countries like Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico also showed high voter turnout rates by having holidays. Election Day is a state holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. This . Is Election Day a federal holiday? | The US Sun Most recently, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont proposed a bill to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday, which sits before a special committee. Election Day - Tuesday, Nov. 8 - is a special day, with voters casting ballots across the country. 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. In 2018, the general election was held on Wednesday. And that election saw the second highest voter turnout in 20 years. Election Day is observed on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, taking place on November 7 this year. Part of HuffPost Home & Living. Georgia grassroots groups helped Biden win. Research has found that higher trust in the government and democratic process leads to greater voter turnout. 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. Common reasons for a certain day are the date on which a state or country achieved its independence, or the date of the country's patron saint day. From 2021, the first Sunday of June. The United States has held federal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years since 1845. 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. On Sunday, Virginia Democratic Gov. This is partially due to the influence of Protestantism, which historically set restrictions on activities other than church-going during the Sabbath (usually considered as falling on a Sunday). 3 Countries Where It's Easier To Vote Than the United States They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. Why Election Day is Held on a Tuesday in November in the U.S. A Boatload of Ballots: Midterm Voter Turnout Hit 50-Year High, Estonia's i-voting: more secure, more popular, Macedonia referendum: Low voter turnout puts country's name change at risk, What Voting and Elections Look Like Around the World, X Marks the Choice: Voting Methods around the World, Defense Language and National Security Education Office. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. Most others are not so recent, but still not so old: Taiwan's, for example, goes back to a 1911 uprising. The name change required at least 50% voter participation, and opponents to the name change advocated not voting at all rather than voting against the measure. Australia sees around 91%, and 94% in Singapore. Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters. OK, so why Tuesday? Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. Topics Explainers Politics US Evergreen US Explainers YOU MIGHT LIKE [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. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, 2020 North Macedonian parliamentary election, "THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. 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 pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. NOW WATCH: Arianna Huffingtons advice to Hillary Clinton, the majority of US states have voter leave laws, You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list, voted during the 2016 presidential election, experts say such a scheme is unlikely to fly in the US, The evolution of American voting rights in 242 years shows how far we've come and how far we still have to go, In an interview with President Barack Obama in 2016. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? As you can see, the world is mostly divided between countries that celebrate a national independence day and countries that celebrate a national unification or revolution day. Whether election day in the United States should be made a national holiday is debated. What we're proposing isn't that every Election Day becomes a national holiday, just the presidential election, which only takes place once every four years. Executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research David Becker argues that increasing turnout is a nuanced problem that can't be fixed by declaring a holiday. 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. The U.S. lags scores of other countries in election participation, ranking 26th out of 32 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the Pew. Not all of these marked the end of colonialism (for example, Austria's signifies the withdrawal of foreign militaries after World War II and the declaration of neutrality) but the vast majority do. Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. Disclaimer: Dates and Events correct at time of printing but may change without our knowledge. Election Day is always the first Tuesday after November 1st. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. Americans are working all the time. That's true, although the separate "National Day of Commemoration" occurs on the anniversary of the truce ending the Irish war of independence. Today in my country it is a national holiday as we celebrate the day when St. Paul converted our whole country to Catholicism in AD 60. 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). Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. [10][11]] Because Saturday and Sunday are Sabbath days for devout Jews and Christians, elections would probably have to be held over the two-day period creating a need for more poll workers and a process for securing ballots overnight, Victoria Shineman, a University of Pittsburgh political science professor, wrote in The Washington Post. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. 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. A lot of people go to work, or they're in school during the weekday. This is why election day is not a holiday in Canada - blogTO By comparison,. Make election day a national holiday : r/WhitePeopleTwitter - reddit Instead, lawmakers could simply move nearby Veterans Day to Election Day, emphasizing that voting is both a service to the country and a celebration of the rights and freedoms for which our servicemembers fight. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Battleground Tracker: Tight race in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham appears before Georgia grand jury, House Jan. 6 committee is having conversations with Justice Department, Georgia grand jury investigating Trump wants testimony from Giuliani, Graham, Trump election interference grand jury to hear from Raffensperger, DHS IG says Wolf changed intel report on Russian interference in 2020. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. In the US, Election Day is not a national holiday. [ 17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. In Thailand, one of the very few countries outside of Europe that was never formally colonized, the king's birthday is celebrated (don't insult him or you might go to jail, per the lese majeste laws). 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. 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. In Sweden, for example, 83% of registered voters participated in the 2014 national . Why Election Day Should Be A National Holiday In America Is Election Day a national holiday? These people think it should be After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? It was created in 1992,. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a group that includes 36 countries. ", ProCon.org. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. Newsweek subscription offers > "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. But while . ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. First Sunday of October. October 26, 2020 / 10:57 AM "Voting is a fundamental right,. November 7, 2023. Presented by:Defense Language and National Security Education Office, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote, looked at a few different methods of voting. 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 designateelection day a national holiday. On U.S. Election Day, A Look At How Others Vote : NPR He says it's more important to spread voting out over a period of days and methods. And she thinks corporate America has been leading the way, pointing out several businesses, including Walmart and Coca-Cola, that have announced paid time off and other accommodations to make voting easier for employees on November 3. ", Obama: "Absolutely. Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates, Election Day in the United States has occurred on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ever since President John Tyler signed an 1845 law establishing a specific voting day for the entire country. In some of these countries, voting is compulsory, and in most of them, Election Day is a holiday.