Hey, you know who really has high voter turnout? Poland, for example, holds elections on weekends. 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. Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. If Election Day is a national holiday, would that mean the post office would be closed, she asked. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. All Rights Reserved. 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. Veterans Day typically is about one week after Election Day so this would involve little disruption in terms of job schedules and monthly routines. 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.. 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. 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%. Everyone will get equal opportunity to vote. Make Election Day a federal holiday. 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. Try lower-wage earners at restaurants and stores enterprises that would look to cash in if the working class got an extra day off. Governments are required to Both were senior officials in the Clinton administration. Last modified on April 13, 2020. 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? Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. However, I feel like this is painting with a broad stroke. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. 2020, Virginia. I feel the commenter's central thesis is that there are way more Dems in the US then Repubels. If not, youre out. 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. However, it gives voters the choice of not having to detour from their routines on Election Day. 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? Partly cloudy skies. But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. Or we could use the Jumble ballot. Please make a gift today. People of color and low-income Americans already face barriers to vote, and making Election Day a national holiday may not help them. Top Issues for Voters. . Useful for voters who are still indecisive. 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. [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. 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. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Waste of money. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. 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. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. What then to do about American elections? For more information, please see our All rights reserved. Why or why not? Is there any veracity to what this dude is claiming? WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. The idea of combining Veterans Day with National Election Day has been brought up for debate, but that doesnt make much sense. John M. Cunningham, "Why Are U.S. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal holiday. A number of bills like the Weekend Voting Act have been proposed in Congress over the years, often by Democrats. Protections for individuals with disabilities: The bill would address some of the biggest challenges to voting access that Americans with disabilities face. 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. Dont believe me? Lets assume there wont be an election holiday anytime soon not until Democrats control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. Virginia Gov. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. 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. Its one of many sweeping changes she would like to see in stateelection law. 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. Carlson calls on Minnesotans to oppose sulfide mining, Local View: The stories of spring, other seasons, play out in the night sky, In Response: Expensive or not, Minnesota a good place to do business, The beginning of the rest of their lives: Powwow recognizes Fond du Lac graduates and more, Lake Superior Medical Equipment relocates to West Duluth after fire, Minnesota DNR, feds sign agreement over logging in wildlife areas, Special Olympics return to Northland after 3 years. Is that really an improvement? Could that ever happen in the U.S.? To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether Election Day should be a national holiday, go to ProCon.org. Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. 12 . New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[4]='MMERGE4';ftypes[4]='date';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='date';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='date';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='date';fnames[8]='MMERGE8';ftypes[8]='zip';fnames[9]='MMERGE9';ftypes[9]='radio';fnames[10]='MMERGE10';ftypes[10]='text';fnames[11]='MMERGE11';ftypes[11]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Your connection to news, music, conversation. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? A subreddit to discuss political science. 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. Or are there other legitimate and logical reasons that may be preventing the Election Day from becoming a national holiday? Should Election Day be a national holiday? 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. Political science is the scientific study of politics. 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. In the Golden State, a majority of voters make their choices by mail rather than going to polling places on Election Day. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. 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. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 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. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Under normal political circumstances, more Americans follow the race to the World Series than to the White House. 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. 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. On WDETs Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson, Benson emphasized that making Election Day a holiday would make it easier toattractmore election workers. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid holidays. 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. (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.). ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 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,". Sweden came second with 82.6%. 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. 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. Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria Meet In Moscow: Whats Afoot? Jake Neher is senior producer for Detroit Today and host of MichMash for 101.9 WDET. 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. Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. Not everyone is jumping at the idea of making Election Day a state holiday, however. 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. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard 14 . If you can draw a line between Donald Trump and President, your vote counts. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. Creating laws in all states that let people vote before or after work would be more effective than a holiday. Also, would a holiday mean limited public transit schedules, which might make it harder for some people to get to the polls? So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. Adding in a new national holiday isnt necessarily without Explain your answer. Another positive: This would turn the day into a celebration of democracy. 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. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a holiday in Michigan. And what happens to be at the top of the list? 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. Proponents of automatic voter registration say the policy removes barriers to registration for eligible voters, a step toward increasing voter participation. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. [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. The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Georgia had the 12th-highest turnout in the country in 2018, with 57% participation. https://www.hoover.org/profiles/bill-whalen, federal 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. 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), Controversial Program Could Diminish NASAs Credibility And Its Federal Funding, Shelter From A Storm: Protecting The Housing Market From Itself. an important step in ensuring the right to vote for all Americans and stabilizing democracy. 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. [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. 5. But if you must, then I insist we move the election to April 15, Tax Day, to remind everyone how much these elections cost. Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do. 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. WebPros: A day will be marked on your calendar for voting. 2. Low 38F. Rationality and coherent argument are encouraged, whereas ideological flamewars are strongly discouraged. Citizens have a right to vote. 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. You know what else they have? Some countries However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue-collar workers. I believe Election Day should be a holiday so we can get our maximum participation, says Jacobs. 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. Dont give the nation a day off, but do a better job of giving voters options for getting involved. A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. That, to me,is the real answer, she says. [10][11]] 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. Making weekday elections a national holiday is a popular idea that would align the US with other countries. 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. 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. Yes, its true Americas voting age is lower than some other developed countries. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Funding by lobbyists is a big problem. All rights reserved. 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). "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, for example, says she lost the 2018 governors race as a victim of some ballot-blocking scheme. A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off. And even if elections arent routine in the age of Donald Trump, its a nice option to have. Compulsory voting. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? 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 Even some Democrats are saying that it could have unintended consequences. High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. 2. 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. At the heart of the debate is voter turnout give more people the day off, more people will go out of their way to head to the polls. "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?" There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. 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. In California, for example, theres now permanent voting by mail(voters can also go on line, after theyve submitted their ballot, to see if theyve been processed). Changing the laws and individual policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. Democratic rights are much easier to end than they are to restore, so the federal government must respond to the wave of voter suppression overtaking the states with decisive, expansive action. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. 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 participation. 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. 1. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. 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. In many other democracies around the world, national elections are held on the weekend or are a federal holiday. Plus, some experts say moving to weekend voting could substantially increase the cost of running elections. We get about 20-25% of our absentee ballots come in on Election Cons: Private employers are not required to give their employees federal holidays anyways. CON. 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. And these two nuggets, stashed inside Section 1903. Roughly the same odds as Mitch McConnell doing hot yoga with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 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. Before that point, states could hold their presidential elections on any day within a certain 34-day window. Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. 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. [14][35] In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbeques nationwide, resulting in turnout rates around 90%. To have a democratic society, we need to restructure government and elections. Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. Whether that be through the mail, or people drop them off in person. And that enabled us to essentially fill our needs of staffing the elections. 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. Election Day holiday: The bill would make Election Day a legal public holiday, making it easier for voters to get to the polls. Change often comes slowly, subtly. ", ProCon.org. Tuesday was chosen because it was most convenient for farmers traveling by horse and buggy at the time. While there are a lot of positives to creating a new national holiday, there are also some negatives. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Way too many Americans are voting already. According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? Last modified on October 1, 2020. People who work long shifts, juggle multiple jobs, 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. 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. 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? 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. We want parents to vote, not get stuck. Last week his office released a list of voting rights provisions he would support. [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). The dream of busy voting booths is the goal of House Democratic legislation to make Election Day a [+] federal holiday. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, includingMemorial Day,Independence Day, andChristmas Day. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. So, no, please dont make Election Day a holiday. 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. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. WebElection Campaign Cons. We are not a nation of civics nerds. Allow people to register to vote AND vote on the same day. However, it wasnt until recently that the idea gained any traction in Congress. [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.
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