pros and cons of making election day a national holiday

Effectiveness depends on the region. 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. 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%. Pro/CON: Should Election Day be a federal holiday WebMaking election day a holiday might seem to have very few drawbacks, but because many of the people who would actually benefit from the holiday are unlikely to even be able to WebAt the opening of Congress this past January, House Democrats introduced a proposal to make Election Day a national holiday. You know what else they have? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. As the chart shows, presidential turnout corresponds with midterm turnout and in 2018, turnout skyrocketed from 36.7% four years previously to 49.6%. In the Golden State, a majority of voters make their choices by mail rather than going to polling places on Election Day. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. I believe Election Day should be a holiday so we can get our maximum participation, says Jacobs. 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). John M. Cunningham, "Why Are U.S. Managing Editor 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. While there are a lot of positives to creating a new national holiday, there are also some negatives. If you want to make Election Day a national holiday because you believe American workers should have more days off to hang out with their families or pound a few brewskis with their buds Im all in. What America needs isnt more voters. 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. Count me out. OK, so why Tuesday? 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. Virginia Gov. [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. Compulsory voting. Rationality and coherent argument are encouraged, whereas ideological flamewars are strongly discouraged. Why or why not? The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Devin Gordon is a Tahlequah business owner. [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. Promotion of new political ideas. Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. 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. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. Virginia Gov. A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. Privacy Policy. [36]. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? Here Are Some Pros 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. [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. It is the duty of the state to make exercising this right as accesible as possible by making the election day a holiday. The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. ProCon.org. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. 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. Local View: Former Gov. A National Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. Colleges should have already canceled Election Day classes. Making election day a holiday would improve the ability of the government to conduct elections. Giving people the day to vote would be the first public holiday in the United States. By registering through a routine and necessary transaction such as those at the DMV, voters wont have to worry about registration deadlines or application submissions. Not me. We want parents to vote, not get stuck. 1. So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. Thats not to say no one has tried. The entire voter suppression conspiracy being advanced by progressives is nonsense on its face. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Election Day 12 . Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. The idea of combining Veterans Day with National Election Day has been brought up for debate, but that doesnt make much sense. The turnout numbers prove voting isnt that hard. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Okun's son is mentioned in this 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. 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). 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. 14 . The nature of a public holiday is that businesses close and workers are entitled a list of voting rights provisions he would support, Congress in 2019: The need for bipartisan action on voting rights and election integrity, Voting rights, the next Attorney General, and a less divided America, Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills, Generational change divides GOP, unites Democrats. ], ProCon.org, "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?,", ProCon.org, "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? While these provisions represent major steps in the right direction, they are not enough. Approximately two million people who work Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 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. 2. 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. Funding by lobbyists is a big problem. ", ProCon.org. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Pros and Cons of making election day a national holiday Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. It would only make it harder and more expensive for all candidates to have a fair shot at competing. Roughly the same odds as Mitch McConnell doing hot yoga with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and 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 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. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. [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. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. And so, this would actually make it even easier and validate businesses to give their employees the day off so that they can work the elections and serve as election workers.. No: Too Inconvenient, Early-Voting Options Ample, orlandosentinel.com, Nov. 5, 2018, Henry Farber, "Increasing Voter Turnout: Is Democracy Day the Answer?, princeton.edu, Feb. 2009, Sarah Issenberg, "The Mystery of the Puerto Rico Voter, slate.com, Jan. 27, 2012, Paul LeBlanc, "Virginia Governor Makes Election Day a Holiday and Expands Early Voting,". 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. 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. Mallory McMorrow (@MalloryMcMorrow) February 3, 2021. In addition, those who wish to cast their ballots have ample opportunity to do so. It would give people time to vote. I also take umbrage with the idea that people who dont vote are doing something wrong. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. Michael Graham is political editor at InsideSources.com. Speaking on MichMash, she explainsthat one of her biggest concerns has to do with the post office. There is a simple and straightforward solution: make Election Day a national holiday so that people have the time and freedom to vote without taking time off from work. Nationally in 2018, turnout was above 50%, with 35 million more voters than the previous midterm election in 2014. This simple change would make it easier for For more information, please see our 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. make Election Day 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. Pros and Cons Other solutions would more reliably increase voter turnout than a national holiday. North Korea. Should the Guantnamo Bay Detention Center Remain Open? [31]. Election Day [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. 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. Pro/Con: Make Election Day a holiday along with Poland, for example, holds elections on weekends. 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. A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off. Other solutions would more reliably 1. 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. I feel the commenter's central thesis is that there are way more Dems in the US then Repubels. 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. Sweden came second with 82.6%. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. Colorado College recently decided to give students the day off on Nov. 3. [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. 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. ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. If you can draw a line between Donald Trump and President, your vote counts. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. Dont give the nation a day off, but do a better job of giving voters options for getting involved. 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. 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? [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). Please make a gift today. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.procon.org/should-election-day-be-a-national-holiday/. Cheyna has interned with Michigan Radio and freelanced for WKAR public radio in Lansing. Georgia had the 12th-highest turnout in the country in 2018, with 57% participation. Last modified on October 1, 2020. But other solutions would more reliably increase turnout. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. (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.). Or are there other legitimate and logical reasons that may be preventing the Election Day from becoming a national holiday? 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. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? CON. If that level of participation gnaws at you, then consider: turnout for UKs Brexit vote was a shade over 77%; while 67.9% of the French electorate turned out for 2017s presidential election. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a state holiday, but some worry about unintended consequences. If 118 million people did it in 2018 without a holiday, why do we need to shut down the post office and close the banks to get them to do it again? Election Day https://www.hoover.org/profiles/bill-whalen, federal holiday. But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria Meet In Moscow: Whats Afoot? If not, youre out. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. Making Election Day a national holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers. 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 their work days. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. And even if elections arent routine in the age of Donald Trump, its a nice option to have. Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico receive high voter turnout due to universal voting and time off. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? @TinaLBarton gave me some good insight that caused me to reconsider my bill that would have done just that. Another positive: This would turn the day into a celebration of democracy. 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? 2. Political science is the scientific study of politics. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. 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.. The measure contains an election-reform bushelful of liberal chestnuts same-day voter registration, provisional ballots, poll worker recruitment and training. WebElection Day could be made a federal holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. With the exception of employers, who doesnt want another paid day off? Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. Pro and Con: Election Day Holiday | Britannica What are the pros and cons of making Election Day a national After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? Pew Research Center found 71 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans support that. That year, just over 36% of eligible voters showed up. In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. 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. Low 38F. 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. [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. If Election Day is a national holiday, would that mean the post office would be closed, she asked. US Political Parties. Election Day in the United States is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of an election year. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. 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.

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