Michael Graham is political editor at InsideSources.com. And that the reason why the Dems don't win more often is because of low voter turn-out because they can't afford to leave their jobs. Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. 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. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Its a move that could de-politicize some of the election reform discussion, as some of the ideas could receivebipartisan support. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. 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. Again, it is not clear that this is demonstrably true but it is a widespread perception. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. Mallory McMorrow (@MalloryMcMorrow) February 3, 2021. Dont believe me? 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. More absentee voters mean there needs to be more of those ballots processed on Election Day, while other poll workers help people cast ballots in person. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, includingMemorial Day,Independence Day, andChristmas Day. Election Day Its time to make voting harder. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. . The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. [16]. 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. May improve popularity of a candidate. 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. In this pro the author says that if election day was a holiday it would make more people vote and that is a good thing. Managing Editor Managing Editor 1. National Election Day would make a 13th and it would only be observed once every four years and would help ensure voters could avoid the stresses of time constraints and other factors that hinder their ability to vote. Many states have already declared National Election Day a civic holiday, which is an occasion to commemorate America's history, celebrate our rights and responsibilities as citizens, and learn about our constitutional ideals. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. Other solutions would more reliably And she said there are lots of other ways to do that like early, in-person voting. 1. 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. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Compulsory voting. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard WebElection Campaign Cons. Should Every Election Day Be A Federal Holiday? - Forbes Postings about current events are fine, as long as there is a political science angle. Bensons proposal would make Election Day a state holiday, not a national holiday. Election Day in the United States is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of an election year. 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. 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? Pros and Cons Presidential Election History. 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. Tina Barton, a Republican Rochester Hills City Clerk has a lot of those questions, and more. Sweden came second with 82.6%. High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. Explain your answer. 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. 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. For more information, please see our Should Election Day be a national holiday? By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. In a number of states, polling places have been closed in minority neighborhoods, which has created long lines and tremendous inconvenience for affected votersinconvenience with a cost, especially for those paid hourly wages. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. 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. However, a national primary day is a recipe for failure. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? People who work long shifts, juggle multiple jobs, WebMore people would vote if Election Day was a national holiday. Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid holidays. 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.procon.org/should-election-day-be-a-national-holiday/. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." Pro/Con: Make Election Day a holiday along with And if they get sick on Monday, the day before the election theyre not trying to get an emergency ballot, or something like that. 3. Coronavirus: Timeline of Comments by Trump and Biden with Context. Make Election Day a national holiday - Brookings Some countries So its more important than ever for you, our listeners and readers, who are able todonate to keep supporting WDETs mission. 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. Count me out. The idea of combining Veterans Day with National Election Day has been brought up for debate, but that doesnt make much sense. Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, for example, says she lost the 2018 governors race as a victim of some ballot-blocking scheme. Should the Guantnamo Bay Detention Center Remain Open? 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. Waste of money. This article was published on October 1, 2020, at Britannicas ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source. One must The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits of a federal holiday are those who already struggle to vote, Shineman noted. Plus, some experts say moving to weekend voting could substantially increase the cost of running elections. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org Political science is the scientific study of politics. 5. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-election-day-holiday. Scan this QR code to download the app now. 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? The question remains: is such a holiday good public policy? 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. And what happens to be at the top of the list? 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. "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?" While there are a lot of positives to creating a new national holiday, there are also some negatives. [26] Caravanas are joyful, noisy parades of cars festooned with flags and other decorations that stream through Puerto Ricos streets ahead of an election and are credited with the islands over 80% voter turnout. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among If changes need to be made nationally, those changes should relate to job security and compensation. 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. WebPro: making election day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. 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.. Political campaigns can help winning elections. Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? | ProCon.org 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. Why or why not? 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. Please make a gift today. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. A subreddit to discuss political science. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. 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. But making Election Day a holiday because you want to increase voter turnout? WebAt the opening of Congress this past January, House Democrats introduced a proposal to make Election Day a national holiday. While many countries hold national elections on holidays, Americans are at liberty to stay at home. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. National Election Day rolls around every four years and falls on the first Tuesday in November. Have you looked at who theyre voting for? Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - Morningside Center Really? However, it gives voters the choice of not having to detour from their routines on Election Day. 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. Lets assume there wont be an election holiday anytime soon not until Democrats control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. 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. The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday. One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. Move Voting to Veterans Day - Politico Try lower-wage earners at restaurants and stores enterprises that would look to cash in if the working class got an extra day off. 14 . Last modified on October 1, 2020. make Election Day There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. For more information on how to vote, head over to our TurboVote module. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a state holiday, but some worry about unintended consequences. So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. The bill would also effectively revive Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which requires states with a history of voter discrimination have all changes to their election laws approved by the federal government, updating the law in response to the Supreme Courts 2013 holding in Shelby County v. Holder. The bill had zero co-sponsors and went [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). You may opt-out by. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard [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.
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