But thats not guarantor of a higher turnout. For more information on how to vote, head over to our TurboVote module. 3. The bill had zero co-sponsors and went 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. Colleges should have already canceled Election Day classes. 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.. 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. As Congress continues to grapple with voting rights legislation this week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has used his considerable influence as the Senates key swing vote to set the terms of the debate. Compulsory voting. A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off. We see that you have javascript disabled. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. Dont believe me? Virginia Gov. 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. Opponents say kids arent mature enough 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. ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Dont give the nation a day off, but do a better job of giving voters options for getting involved. Pew Research Center found 71 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans support that. Marshall is an attorney in Washington and Okun is a corporate strategic advisor in Singapore for McLarty Associates. Last modified on April 13, 2020. But making Election Day a holiday because you want to increase voter turnout? Freedom to Vote Act Proponents of automatic voter registration say the policy removes barriers to registration for eligible voters, a step toward increasing voter participation. 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. 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. While many countries hold national elections on holidays, Americans are at liberty to stay at home. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? 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. If Election Day is a national holiday, would that mean the post office would be closed, she asked. 3. Cookie Notice Managing Editor So who benefits if the U.S. move to a system where its adults have all of Tuesday to go to polls, if they so choose? In Texas, for instance, the deadline to register to vote for the 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. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? [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. [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. Lets get early in-person voting in place in Michigan, so that everyone has an opportunity that fits their schedule. What are the pros and cons of making Election Day a national 10 . Sweden came second with 82.6%. 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. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. In its last two presidential elections (2015 and 2010) turnout was 55% 5% less than the 2016 vote in the U.S. Switzerland also votes on weekends. Pro and Con: Election Day Holiday | Britannica In 1845, when Congress established a national election day, it had to be a Tuesday because farmers went to church on Sunday, went to market on Wednesday, and may have needed a day, Monday, to get to their polling place, Gil Troy an American presidential historian and McGill University professor told HuffPost. Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org 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. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. It would give people time to vote. ", ProCon.org. For example, one may suggest, if we observe Election Day as a national holiday, then we will be unable to adequately staff and secure polling venues, or worse; it would negatively impact government spending. there are more pros than cons with regard to observing Election Day as a federal holiday. So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. Funding by lobbyists is a big problem. Creating laws in all states that let people vote before or after work would be more effective than a holiday. CON. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? 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. 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 ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. The dream of busy voting booths is the goal of House Democratic legislation to make Election Day a [+] federal holiday. 12 . 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. Everyone will get equal opportunity to vote. But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. 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. 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. Would you have to pay all levels of election workers holiday pay, which would make administering elections more expensive? Making election day a holiday would improve the ability of the government to conduct elections. Bernie Sanders attempted to pass an Election Day holiday under the "Democracy Day Act" in 2018. Making weekday elections a national holiday is a popular idea that would align the US with other countries. 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. 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. Winds light and variable.. ], ProCon.org, "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?,", ProCon.org, "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? All Rights Reserved. However, it wasnt until recently that the idea gained any traction in Congress. 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. Move Voting to Veterans Day - Politico Waste of money. Pros and Cons 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. Litigation pending before the Supreme Court this term in Brnovich v. DNC, however, threatens to undermine this rule. Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do. 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. 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. 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. 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. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. Giving people the day to vote would be the first public holiday in the United States. Instead of having the names spelled out, voters would pick between Oje Diben and Noladd Rumpt.. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. Pro/CON: Should Election Day be a federal holiday How to Become the US President. In previous elections, that percentage was even higher. WDET is here to keep you informed onessential information, news and resources related to COVID-19. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Advertisement. 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. The question remains: is such a holiday good public policy? [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. 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. [12], The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday, according to Archon Fung, PhD, and Jane Mansbridge, PhD, professors at the Harvard Kennedy School. In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbecues, resulting in turnout rates around 90 percent. 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. 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. Another positive: This would turn the day into a celebration of democracy. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? 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? We are not a nation of civics nerds. Partly cloudy skies. Making Election Day a national holiday would turn voting into a celebration of democracy. Poland, for example, holds elections on weekends. Devin Gordon is a Tahlequah business owner. Postings about current events are fine, as long as there is a political science angle. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. 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. Many Americans are not [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. In addition, those who wish to cast their ballots have ample opportunity to do so. ProCon.org. WebElection Day becoming a federal holiday will elevate voting to a democratic holiday. Count me out. 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. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a holiday in Michigan. 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. And she said there are lots of other ways to do that like early, in-person voting. Rationality and coherent argument are encouraged, whereas ideological flamewars are strongly discouraged. If so, how? If you can draw a line between Donald Trump and President, your vote counts. Managing Editor One major reason: It comes down to tradition, Troy said. 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. Georgia had the 12th-highest turnout in the country in 2018, with 57% participation. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Election Day And who would get squeezed by the holiday? Speaking on MichMash, she explainsthat one of her biggest concerns has to do with the post office. 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. 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. Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party at the expense of the other party.. 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. ", "While it is the purview of the states to set election rules, I will encourage them to make voting fair and easily accessible for all voters.". make Election Day What then to do about American elections? Other solutions would more reliably increase voter turnout than a national holiday. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. She's also done some online freelancing and worked on documentary films. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. PRO/Con: Should Election Day be a federal holiday? Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?" [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. One must Politicians, most recently House Democrats in 2019, have also floated the idea of turning a weekday Election Day into a federal holiday, but to no avail. While there are a lot of positives to creating a new national holiday, there are also some negatives. (And in case youre curious, November was chosen as the month for similar reasons: It was after fall harvest was over but before the cold winter weather set in.). 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. [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. Thats not to say no one has tried. [31] Same-day registration boosts turnout by 5%, and universal implementation of it would have added as many as 4.8 million voters in the 2016 election, according to Danielle Root, JD, and Liz Kennedy, JD, from the Center for American Progress. US Political Parties. One example: if its a holiday, kids are home from schoolmaking it much harder for parents to have time to get to the polls. 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. Election Day holiday: The bill would make Election Day a legal public holiday, making it easier for voters to get to the polls. But if you must, then I insist we move the election to April 15, Tax Day, to remind everyone how much these elections cost. 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. Election Day could be made a federal holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Approximately two million people who work First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 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. The ideal ballot would have the candidates in one alphabetical list on one side, and the offices they seek on the other. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. Have you looked at who theyre voting for? [1] The decision was made taking into account farmers, a large portion of the voting constituency at the time, who would not have been able to travel to polling places in winter months or during planting or harvest times. [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal 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. Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. The second Trump vote could reach those levels. Twelve federal holidays are recognized each year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washingtons Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. However, I feel like this is painting with a broad stroke. Explain your answers. In many other democracies around the world, national elections are held on the weekend or are a federal holiday. [36]. Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. 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. Winds light and variable. Make Election Day a federal holiday. @TinaLBarton gave me some good insight that caused me to reconsider my bill that would have done just that. But one idea that could get support and pushback from both sides of the aisle is making Election Day a state holiday. Election Day Others have suggested making Veterans Day (Nov. 11), which is already a paid national holiday, Election Day. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States.
King County Property Tax Calculator,
Chris Mclaughlin Hawaii,
Samsung Fold 3 Silicone Cover,
Articles P