You have permission to edit this article. People of color and low-income Americans already face barriers to vote, and making Election Day a national holiday may not help them. We are not a nation of civics nerds. But thats not guarantor of a higher turnout. To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether Election Day should be a national holiday, go to ProCon.org. There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. Why or why not? Folks who follow the news and keep up with current events sometimes forget theyre in the minority. make Election Day 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. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. 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? 14 . The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. As of mid-May Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills that would reduce the hours polls are open; forbid people from eating or drinking while waiting in line to vote; close voter registration on Sundays, when Black churches traditionally have organized their members to register and vote; repeal no excuse absentee voting; and create a long list of other barriers to voting. Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. Election Day It was a modern record for the Peach State. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. 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? 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. Making weekday elections a national holiday is a popular idea that would align the US with other countries. Colorado College recently decided to give students the day off on Nov. 3. But making Election Day a holiday because you want to increase voter turnout? ProCon.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. 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. That nations turnout in 2017s national election was only 46%(you want to get the Swiss fired up, put a contentious idea in front of them a vote vote tojoin the EEA in 1992brought out 79%; the 2016 vote todeport foreign criminals, 63%). Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. [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. When turnout is high, it becomes increasingly fruitless for politicians to play to their base in ways that allow a vocal minority to rule, which is how many American leaders currently operate. It does not force voters to elect any one candidate and therefore, we believe, it survives constitutional muster. ProCon.org. You know what else they have? 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. 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. 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. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. 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. Sweden came second with 82.6%. 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. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." Who wants more of the people who think professional wrestling is real or that 9/11 was an inside job to help pick the next president? Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. 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 also take umbrage with the idea that people who dont vote are doing something wrong. Veterans deserve a day that stands on its own without the distractions that come with arriving at the polls and casting votes. 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? 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. 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global 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). 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. The dream of busy voting booths is the goal of House Democratic legislation to make Election Day a [+] federal holiday. 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%. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - Morningside Center The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Change often comes slowly, subtly. After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? 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. 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. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. 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. [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. 2020, Virginia. Okun's son is mentioned in this But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. 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. 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. The idea of combining Veterans Day with National Election Day has been brought up for debate, but that doesnt make much sense. So, no, please dont make Election Day a holiday. (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.). 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. ", ProCon.org. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. And even if elections arent routine in the age of Donald Trump, its a nice option to have. Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Sanctuary Cities: Top 3 Pros and Cons Kneeling during the National Anthem: Top 3 In Texas, for instance, the deadline to register to vote for the It shouldnt all come down to just one day., Despite Olive Branch from Whitmer,GOPShowing No Interest in Cooperation in2021, A Michigan Reporters Harrowing Experience Inside Capitol DuringInsurrection, New Year Means New Democratic Majority on State SupremeCourt. Try lower-wage earners at restaurants and stores enterprises that would look to cash in if the working class got an extra day off.
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