Protections for individuals with disabilities: The bill would address some of the biggest challenges to voting access that Americans with disabilities face. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. Privacy Policy. Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico receive high voter turnout due to universal voting and time off. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal 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. The ideal ballot would have the candidates in one alphabetical list on one side, and the offices they seek on the other. The bill had zero co-sponsors and went In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Its hard to say. She's also done some online freelancing and worked on documentary films. Consider this: Even if Election Day were moved to a weekend or turned into a national holiday, retail and service industry employees would still need to work. As the chart shows, presidential turnout corresponds with midterm turnout and in 2018, turnout skyrocketed from 36.7% four years previously to 49.6%. 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. May improve popularity of a candidate. 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. Dont believe me? Bartons concerns about the possible unintended consequences of an Election Day holiday haveled a Democratic sponsor of legislation to create the holiday to reconsider her bill. 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. Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party traditionally it is believed to help the Democrats at the expense of the other party, the GOP, said Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor. Nationally in 2018, turnout was above 50%, with 35 million more voters than the previous midterm election in 2014. 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. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg). A number of bills like the Weekend Voting Act have been proposed in Congress over the years, often by Democrats. 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.. Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? However, it gives voters the choice of not having to detour from their routines on Election Day. For example, Australia typically has a turnout in the 90 percent or more range, and other nations such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico achieve very high turnout via universal voting and time off for voting. Not me. Low 38F. And the last thing that we want to do is not get someones ballot in because the postal service was closed down.. Coronavirus: Timeline of Comments by Trump and Biden with Context. 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.. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The measure contains an election-reform bushelful of liberal chestnuts same-day voter registration, provisional ballots, poll worker recruitment and training. [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). Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Again, it is not clear that this is demonstrably true but it is a widespread perception. Poland, for example, holds elections on weekends. So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria Meet In Moscow: Whats Afoot? ", ProCon.org. Making Election Day a national holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers. Changing the laws and individual policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. Voter suppression policies need to be reversed, starting with restoring the pre-clearance provisions of the Civil Rights Act. Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org ", "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.". Or we could use the Jumble ballot. and our If Election Day is a national holiday, would that mean the post office would be closed, she asked. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? "We do not have real political democracy, let alone economic democracy. HR 1, also known as the For The People Act.. WebElection Day becoming a federal holiday will elevate voting to a democratic holiday. WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. Count me out. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. 1. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. [1], Over time, voting rights expanded from only white, male landowners age 21 and older to include women and people of color, as well as citizens age 18 and up, resulting in a dramatic increase in the voting-eligible population and a shift in voter demographics. WebAt the opening of Congress this past January, House Democrats introduced a proposal to make Election Day a national holiday. 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. "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?" [15] A survey showed that US adults would rather have a federal holiday on Election Day than on Christmas Eve, the Friday after Thanksgiving, or St. Patricks day. 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. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? Devin Gordon is a Tahlequah business owner. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, includingMemorial Day,Independence Day, andChristmas Day. Effectiveness depends on the region. Should Election Day be a national holiday? 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. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. In addition to honoring the sacrifices veterans have made, it would remind Americans that voting is a national duty, an obligation both to one another and to the nation; and it would strengthen American democratic political culture, by way of new rituals and traditions, Jill Lepore a Harvard professor of American history wrote in an essay for Politico. What America needs isnt more voters. 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 12 . We see that you have javascript disabled. We are not a nation of civics nerds. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. 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. WebElection Campaign Cons. 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). To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether Election Day should be a national holiday, go to ProCon.org. Not everyone is jumping at the idea of making Election Day a state holiday, however. Making election day a holiday would improve the ability of the government to conduct elections. The second Trump vote could reach those levels. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Some countries Way too many Americans are voting already. While these provisions represent major steps in the right direction, they are not enough. [14][35] In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbeques nationwide, resulting in turnout rates around 90%. Under normal political circumstances, more Americans follow the race to the World Series than to the White House. Political campaigns can help winning elections. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? If a right-wing cabal really is running a secret, suppress-the-vote operation, its the most inept conspiracy since Jussie Smollett and the Subway Sandwich Scam. And what happens to be at the top of the list? There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. 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%. 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. 2. She says thats especially important right now with more voters casting absentee ballots. Compulsory voting. I believe Election Day should be a holiday so we can get our maximum participation, says Jacobs. On WDETs Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson, Benson emphasized that making Election Day a holiday would make it easier toattractmore election workers. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. You may opt-out by. In previous elections, that percentage was even higher. [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. Lets get early in-person voting in place in Michigan, so that everyone has an opportunity that fits their schedule. 2020, Virginia. CON. WebPro: making election day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. @TinaLBarton gave me some good insight that caused me to reconsider my bill that would have done just that. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. If youre rushing to the polls to cast your vote to stop the forces of QAnon or because you seriously believe the same Republican Party that ended slavery wants to bring it back, please stay home. 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 [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. It does not force voters to elect any one candidate and therefore, we believe, it survives constitutional muster. [23], Annie McDonald, Editor of the Berkeley Public Policy Journal, noted that the workers who are least likely to get paid holidays are those who already have less of a voice in the political process: Americans working in retail, hospitality, and service jobs, for example, would most likely not receive the benefit of a paid holiday to vote. Funding by lobbyists is a big problem. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." . Election Day Holiday.. Also, would a holiday mean limited public transit schedules, which might make it harder for some people to get to the polls? 4. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. But these days, Tuesdays are actually quite inconvenient for many Americans, particularly those who cant take time off work to cast their ballots a problem that disproportionately affects Black, Latino and lower-income voters. Its one of many sweeping changes she would like to see in stateelection law. Would you have to pay all levels of election workers holiday pay, which would make administering elections more expensive? Is there any veracity to what this dude is claiming? 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.. 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. So what are the odds of Election Day 2020 becoming a federal holiday (an idea Vermont Bernie Sanders was peddling back in 2015)? If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. This article was published on October 1, 2020, at Britannicas ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source. Voter turnout in the U.S. is generally quite low, trailing behind that of other developed democracies around the world, according to another Pew study. However, a national primary day is a recipe for failure. 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. 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. Explain your answer. Sweden came second with 82.6%. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? 14 . 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. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. Explain your answers. OK, so why Tuesday? This is a stressful, insecure time for many. Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. 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. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Archived post. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. But one idea that could get support and pushback from both sides of the aisle is making Election Day a state holiday. Source: Matthew Haag, "Mitch McConnell Calls Push to Make Election Day a Holiday a Democratic Power Grab," nytimes.com, Jan. 31, 2019, Differences in Conservative and Liberal Brains, The Electoral College: Top 3 Pros and Cons, Coronavirus: Timeline of Comments by Trump and Biden with Context')" href="https://www.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=007115">, Election Day National Holiday: Top 3 Pros and Cons, 2008 Presidential Election (archived 1/19/09), 2012 Presidential Election (archived 1/22/13), 2016 Presidential Election (archived 1/21/17), College Football Playoffs (archived 9/18/12), Insider Trading by Congress (archived 4/18/12). With the exception of employers, who doesnt want another paid day off? 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. 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. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Making Election Day a national holiday would turn voting into a celebration of democracy. While some states have made Election Day a civic holiday (though it primarily applies to public workers) and most have laws that require companies to give employees some time off to vote, none of the legislative efforts to enact these changes on a national level have been successful. [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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. So, no, please dont make Election Day a holiday. List two to three ways. Marshall is an attorney in Washington and Okun is a corporate strategic advisor in Singapore for McLarty Associates. We get about 20-25% of our absentee ballots come in on Election WDET is here to keep you informed onessential information, news and resources related to COVID-19. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. Tuesday was chosen because it was most convenient for farmers traveling by horse and buggy at the time. In many other democracies around the world, national elections are held on the weekend or are a federal holiday. [31]. A subreddit to discuss political science. One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. I feel the commenter's central thesis is that there are way more Dems in the US then Repubels. 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. 1. A survey showed U.S. adults would rather have a federal holiday on Election Day than on Christmas Eve, the Friday after Thanksgiving, or St. Patricks Day. [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. The question remains: is such a holiday good public policy? In the 2016 presidential election, 14% of registered voters cited being too busy or having a conflicting schedule as the main reason they didnt cast their ballots, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data. [20][21][22] A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off for a national holiday. Making weekday elections a holiday would align the U.S. with other countries. Make Election Day a federal holiday. Political science is the scientific study of politics. Even some Democrats are saying that it could have unintended consequences. ", ProCon.org. Election Day holiday: The bill would make Election Day a legal public holiday, making it easier for voters to get to the polls. Virginia Gov. One major reason: It comes down to tradition, Troy said. Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. Last modified on April 13, 2020. The three presidential elections held in the 1960s ranged from a high of 63.8% (JFK) to a low of 62.5% (Nixon). [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. 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. Roughly the same odds as Mitch McConnell doing hot yoga with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. WebPros: A day will be marked on your calendar for voting. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Change often comes slowly, subtly. Approximately two million people who work How to Become the US President. our colleagues on the other side, on their campaigns.. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard 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. So its more important than ever for you, our listeners and readers, who are able todonate to keep supporting WDETs mission. 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. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. In true American fashion, I say we take the day off, cast our votes, then stock up the ice chests with beer, fire up and thaw out the grill, gather with friends and neighbors while we argue and/or celebrate the individual we choose as commander in chief for the next four years. And if they get sick on Monday, the day before the election theyre not trying to get an emergency ballot, or something like that. I invite you to follow me onTwitter:@hooverwhalen, This is a BETA experience. But if you must, then I insist we move the election to April 15, Tax Day, to remind everyone how much these elections cost. Both were senior officials in the Clinton administration. Partly cloudy skies. 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. 1. Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a holiday in Michigan. 3. One example: if its a holiday, kids are home from schoolmaking it much harder for parents to have time to get to the polls. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. https://www.hoover.org/profiles/bill-whalen, federal holiday. Others have suggested making Veterans Day (Nov. 11), which is already a paid national holiday, Election Day. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. ProCon.org. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. Giving people the day to vote would be the first public holiday in the United States. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. Its a move that could de-politicize some of the election reform discussion, as some of the ideas could receivebipartisan support. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? Folks who follow the news and keep up with current events sometimes forget theyre in the minority. 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. Presidential Election History. 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.. 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,".

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