Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. [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. In an interview published Thursday, President Obama endorsed the idea of holding U.S. federal elections on weekends or national holidays. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard Traditionally elections are held over two days, starting on a Friday afternoon and ending the following Saturday afternoon. The United States is out of step with the rest of the world: elections are held on weekends in 27 of the 36 OECD countries. Explore which countries have weekend voting with Pew Research. ", "An overall look at Vietnam's election law", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Election_day&oldid=1136894393. A large Democratic voting rights bill that would have made Election Day a national holiday collapsed in the Senate this year when two senators refused to join their own party in changing. Part of HuffPost Home & Living. However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. First Sunday of July until 2018. Election Day is observed on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, taking place on November 7 this year. Russia's national holiday only goes back to 1992, when the Russian Federation was founded. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. 1. In fact, in Estonia, the option tovoteonlineis becoming increasingly popular. It's amazing how much of the map is green, indicating countries that celebrate a national independence day every year. According to the Pew Research Center, of the thirty-six nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. is one of nine that votes on a week day, and one of seven that doesn't designate election day a national holiday. NOW WATCH: Arianna Huffingtons advice to Hillary Clinton, the majority of US states have voter leave laws, You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list, voted during the 2016 presidential election, experts say such a scheme is unlikely to fly in the US, The evolution of American voting rights in 242 years shows how far we've come and how far we still have to go, In an interview with President Barack Obama in 2016. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. The earliest possible date that Election Day can fall on is November 2nd, and the latest possible date is November 8th. Is Election Day a national holiday? These people think it should be Because the impact of a federal holiday is far-reaching, many states and workplaces would likely follow suit. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? [ 17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. 26K views, 1.2K likes, 65 loves, 454 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Citizen TV Kenya: #FridayNight But none of those states have considerably high turnout compared to those where it isn't a holiday. As you can see, the world is mostly divided between countries that celebrate a national independence day and countries that celebrate a national unification or revolution day. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday.However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. I am from Malta - a tiny EU island nation and today we celebrate the shipwreck of St. Paul on our island. Not only would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout among Americans, which is something that politicians and citizens in general complain about often, but it . On U.S. Election Day, A Look At How Others Vote : NPR 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Battleground Tracker: Tight race in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham appears before Georgia grand jury, House Jan. 6 committee is having conversations with Justice Department, Georgia grand jury investigating Trump wants testimony from Giuliani, Graham, Trump election interference grand jury to hear from Raffensperger, DHS IG says Wolf changed intel report on Russian interference in 2020. A surprising map of the world's national holidays (only two countries 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. Nine states classify general elections as holidays: Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia. And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' 3 Countries Where It's Easier To Vote Than the United States Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? - HuffPost Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. Indigenous Peoples Day is a local and state holiday in some parts of the country usually held on Columbus Day that celebrates the cultures of Native Americans. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. In 2005, the American Bar Association looked at a few different methods of voting: in 1989 in Namibia, voters marked an X on ballots using ink on their fingers; in Bulgaria, rather than marking a ballot, voters pick from any number of sheets of paper representing specific political parties and puts it in a ballot box; and in Ireland, "they designate their top three candidates by numbering them 1, 2, and 3." South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. But while . 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. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? And in Australia, there is a fine. 2) Most other countries are shaped by relatively recent revolutions. In 2018, the general election was held on Wednesday. Should Election Day in the U.S. be a national holiday? South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. The name change required at least 50% voter participation, and opponents to the name change advocated not voting at all rather than voting against the measure. ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. Why Election Day is on a Tuesday in November in the U.S. | Pew Research What if Election Day were a holiday? - USA TODAY Sunday: first Sunday of February for the President, Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly; second Sunday of February for municipal elections. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. Update: Some readers think that Ireland should also be considered an outlier, as St. Patrick's Day is often considered its primary "national day" and is not really an independence or revolution day. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. Other countries may only require it of certain people, and otherwise make it voluntary for others. Consider, for example, the national days of France and Germany: the former marks the French revolution, in 1789, and the latter marks the German reunification in 1990. This is partially due to the influence of Protestantism, which historically set restrictions on activities other than church-going during the Sabbath (usually considered as falling on a Sunday). Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? Election day - Wikipedia Compared to other developed countries, America's voter turnout rate is pretty sad. For rest of the festival holidays the declaration . 2. [1], An election day usually culminates in an election night when the results of the election are tallied and winners are announced.[2]. 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global Citizen With Juneteenth now a national holiday, could Election Day and After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? Election Day as a holiday is something that exists in other countries, but not in most places in the U.S. It's an issue that comes up a lot, but never really gets much serious public debate. Traditionally on weekends. 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. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote; this year, a staggering 47.5%participated in the midterms, compared to 37% in 2014 and 41% in 2010, the years of other midterm elections. WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Election Day should be a holiday for workers in the United States, President Joe Biden said on Thursday. Exact date set by the. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Make Election Day a National Holiday | YIP Institute Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. But it is not a federal holiday. 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. 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. So, workers having a day off to vote wouldn't be a disruption to the economy, or anything a citizen of our country could deny would be worthwhile and smart thing to do. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. Why are other countries better at conducting elections than we are? Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, 2020 North Macedonian parliamentary election, "THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA. Voters in more than one-third of the country enjoy some form of an Election Day holiday, according to RepresentUs. Start the discussion over on our Facebook page, and let us know about civic engagement in your town, state, or country! Election Day in USA in 2023 | Office Holidays by country by date October 26, 2020 / 10:57 AM During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. That's true, although the separate "National Day of Commemoration" occurs on the anniversary of the truce ending the Irish war of independence. Should election day in the United States be made a national holiday But while experts say such a scheme is unlikely to fly in the US, making it easier for people to vote would appear to be a step in the right direction. 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. Explain your answer. Plus, some experts say moving to weekend voting could substantially increase the cost of running elections. So the question of how you label Ireland goes back to which holiday you consider its national day. 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. 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. But in many other countries, the government automatically registers voters and holds elections on days that are weekend days or national holidays. [16]. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? The correct answer is B. Advertisement Advertisement marberman marberman Election Day is already a holiday for state employees in more than a dozen states including Kentucky, Michigan, and New York. South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? Here Are Some Pros and Cons By Monday morning, nearly 60 million had already voted early across the country, closing in on half of 2016's total voter turnout. House Democrats introduced their first piece of legislation in the new Congress this week, an anti-corruption bill that proposes making Election Day a federal holiday and encourages . This is why election day is not a holiday in Canada - blogTO Compulsory voting does not necessarily guarantee 100% turnout rates, however, though they still see higher rates than countries which do not require it. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." 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. [6] Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Why Election Day is Held on a Tuesday in November in the U.S. A Boatload of Ballots: Midterm Voter Turnout Hit 50-Year High, Estonia's i-voting: more secure, more popular, Macedonia referendum: Low voter turnout puts country's name change at risk, What Voting and Elections Look Like Around the World, X Marks the Choice: Voting Methods around the World, Defense Language and National Security Education Office. [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. The case for making Election Day an official holiday Issues also arise when a persons polling place is far from their workplace or when there are long lines to vote during peak times like in the morning before work or in the evening after work. Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. 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. Updates? November 7, 2023. President Obama likes the idea of changing the way or the day Americans vote. From 2021, the first Sunday of June. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. These changes would send the message that voting is not a privilege to be bought with job security and time to spare, but rather an essential responsibility every person ought to undertake. Of the nonvoters surveyed by the US Census Bureau about the 2008 presidential election, the 2012 presidential election, and numerous other elections, the most commonly cited reason for not voting was being too busy or having conflicting work schedules. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. a list of voting rights provisions he would support. National Holiday Act in India - Laws for Festival, Public Holidays Stay up to date with what you want to know. If so, how? Election Day is a US State Holiday observed on several states on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every even-numbered year. This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 18:43. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. And there is no better way to secure democracy than to ensure that everyone has not only the right to vote, but also the meaningful opportunity to cast their ballots. 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. So when faced with choices like having to take unpaid time off work to vote, waking at the wee hours of the morning to vote so that they're not late to work, standing in hours-long lines with everyone else who waited until after the workday to cast their ballot, or simply not voting at all, many choose the latter. We are very proud that we are mentioned in the Bible. of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and 59% of Republicans and GOP leaners said they would support making Election Day a national holiday. 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. Voter turnout in the United States is usually considered low, especially in years without a presidential election. Thats not to say no one has tried. Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. 2020, Virginia. Such a change would mostly benefit white-collar workers instead of the lower-income workers its designed to help. They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. Here are the four things I found interesting about this once as I mapped it out: 1) Yes, most of the world was shaped by colonialism. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Washington's Birthday Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Constitution Day Election Day Veterans Day Bill of Rights Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on third Monday of January each year, near the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. In an interview with President Barack Obama in 2016, Dan Corey, editor-in-chief of Rutgers University's official student newspaper, The Daily Targum, asked Obama about what could be done to reverse the US's low voter turnout: The Daily Targum: "You have pointed out many times that voter turnout in the United States is very low, especially compared to other developed nations. 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. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Managing Editor For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. 4. 3. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. 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. Why or why not? Common reasons for a certain day are the date on which a state or country achieved its independence, or the date of the country's patron saint day. But some think it should be. 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. Take, for example, Bhutan, which every celebrates the anniversary of Ugyen Wangchuck's 1907 election as the nation's first hereditary king (yes, you read that correctly), but not its 1949 independence. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. Election Day should be a 'day off,' U.S. President Joe Biden says 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. He concluded that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout. [34], Automatic voter registration, by contrast, could register an additional 22 million people and create 7.9 million new voters nationwide within a year. TOP QUESTION Sunday: the second Sunday of March for Congress, and the second Sunday of May for President and Vice President. Elections to the European Parliament take place over a period of four days (i.e., Thursday through to Sunday), according to the election days of the EU members states (as listed above). In the US, Election Day is not a national holiday. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. Make election day a national holiday : r/WhitePeopleTwitter - reddit To combat these efforts, lawmakers nationally have introduced HR1 (the John Lewis Act) and S1, which would enact a number of important provisions: improve ballot access, create nonpartisan redistricting commissions to reduce gerrymandering, provide automatic voter registration when people turn 18, allow at least 15 days of early voting,mandate that presidential candidates disclosure their federal tax returns, and require greater disclosure of so-called dark money campaign contributions. One major reason: It comes down to tradition, Troy said. [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. Such low voter turnout rates in the United States have various reasons why many Americans decide not to vote, but one main reason is not giving them time to vote and cast their ballots.
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