Count me out. Coronavirus: Timeline of Comments by Trump and Biden with Context. - Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor, - Gil Troy, American presidential historian, 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, Joaquin Corbalan / EyeEm via Getty Images, as travel and communication improved in the 19th century, being too busy or having a conflicting schedule, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, substantially increase the cost of running elections, move that would make it easier for Americans to vote, The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits. Virginia Gov. 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. 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.. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. Last modified on October 1, 2020. Really? It is the duty of the state to make exercising this right as accesible as possible by making the election day a holiday. Bensons proposal would make Election Day a state holiday, not a national holiday. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard Have you looked at who theyre voting for? The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States. 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. 12 . She says thats especially important right now with more voters casting absentee ballots. This comes with complications that non-blue states might not like like allowing provisional ballots to be counted, a vote-counting that can be painfully slow (it takes California over a month to certify statewide election results). (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.). A National The nature of a public holiday is that businesses close and workers are entitled Freedom to Vote Act Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Waste of money. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? 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. In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. 3. So its more important than ever for you, our listeners and readers, who are able todonate to keep supporting WDETs mission. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Its one of many sweeping changes she would like to see in stateelection law. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. Postings about current events are fine, as long as there is a political science angle. For example, although most schools are closed anyway because theyre being used as polling places,not all of them are, which begs the question: If were going to be closing more schools and possibly daycares would that cause childcare problems that would actually make it harder for some people to vote? 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. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. 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. 2020, Virginia. 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. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Political science is the scientific study of politics. See the pros and cons of declaring Election Day a holiday across the nation. There is one other option: move elections to Saturdays. Election Day 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. Cons: Private employers are not required to give their employees federal holidays anyways. Move past the theatrics of the government shutdown, impeachment and the threat of investigations ad infinitumand theres the question of Democrat squad goals in a Pelosi-run House of Representatives. 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. Part of HuffPost Home & Living. 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. 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. @TinaLBarton gave me some good insight that caused me to reconsider my bill that would have done just that. Explain your answer. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election Day a national holiday, OKLAHOMA WATCH: For tenants behind on rent, ant, Armstrong Bank appoints Aston Armstrong Hudson , OKLAHOMA WATCH: School report cards released, b, Keys secure Districts sweep against Colgate, Doctor accused of killing nurse released on bond, Man accused of sexting minor to appear in court, Business owner accused of obstructing an officer has undisclosed offer revised, EVERYDAY HEROES: Photog overcomes challenges to earn degree, BERRY BEST TIME: Strawberry growers in Adair County start selling crop, Man accused of killing three people denied demand for admissibility hearing, Man charged with murder of deputys daughter pleads not guilty, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DOWNTOWN TAHLEQUAH: 2023 RED FERN FESTIVAL. [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. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a holiday in Michigan. [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. our colleagues on the other side, on their campaigns.. 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. [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). Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico receive high voter turnout due to universal voting and time off. I also take umbrage with the idea that people who dont vote are doing something wrong. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. We see that you have javascript disabled. 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. Why or why not? 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. 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. Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. 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. 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. [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. Heres what the Senate Majority Leader had to say about the notion earlier this week: Just what America needs, another paid holiday and a bunch of government workers being paid to go out and work for I assume . If so, how? According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. Many Americans are not 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.. It would give people time 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. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. So, no, please dont make Election Day a holiday. WebPro: making election day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. 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. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus data on nonvoters, registered voters from households making more than $150,000 are most likely to say they dont have time to turn out on Election Day. Cookie Notice PRO/Con: Should Election Day be a federal holiday? Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? We want parents to vote, not get stuck. But only 35% bothered to cast un bulletin de votein the second round of Frances parliamentary election (its what comes from loading the ticket with the likes of retired matadors and mathematical savants). Useful for voters who are still indecisive. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Pro/Con: Don't make Election Day a holiday; we don't need more 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. ], ProCon.org, "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?,", ProCon.org, "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? While these provisions represent major steps in the right direction, they are not enough. 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. 2020, Virginia. Managing Editor 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. Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org Election Day be a National Holiday in the U.S Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? [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. Pro/CON: Should Election Day be a federal holiday [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. Litigation pending before the Supreme Court this term in Brnovich v. DNC, however, threatens to undermine this rule. Virginia Gov. 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - Morningside Center Allow people to register to vote AND vote on the same day. 1. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. 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. The three presidential elections held in the 1960s ranged from a high of 63.8% (JFK) to a low of 62.5% (Nixon). Changing the laws and individual policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. WebElection Day becoming a federal holiday will elevate voting to a democratic holiday. [36]. For more information, please see our CON. Hey, you know who really has high voter turnout? American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. Election Day Holiday.. 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? Should Election Day Be a National Holiday? | ProCon.org Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Pros and Cons of making election day a national holiday "Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?" 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. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. That, to me,is the real answer, she says. You may opt-out by. If not, youre out. 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? 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. [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. I feel the commenter's central thesis is that there are way more Dems in the US then Repubels. Is there any veracity to what this dude is claiming? OK, so why Tuesday? Should the U.S. Make Election Day a National Holiday? - Ask.com 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. Pros and Cons The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among If you can draw a line between Donald Trump and President, your vote counts. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. Roughly the same odds as Mitch McConnell doing hot yoga with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 13 . 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. Advertisement. On WDETs Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson, Benson emphasized that making Election Day a holiday would make it easier toattractmore election workers. Lets look at why Congress has never made Election Day a 1. In its last two presidential elections (2015 and 2010) turnout was 55% 5% less than the 2016 vote in the U.S. Switzerland also votes on weekends. While making Election Day a national holiday or moving it to the weekend would by no means be a cure-all, it could be used in conjunction with other strategies like National Election Day would make a 13th and it would only be observed once every four years and would help ensure voters could avoid the stresses of time constraints and other factors that hinder their ability to vote. 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. [31]. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. 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. Winds light and variable. A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. Not me. Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid holidays. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 And who would get squeezed by the holiday? Or are there other legitimate and logical reasons that may be preventing the Election Day from becoming a national holiday? [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. 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. But would such a change turn out the voters Democrats covet most? Should Election Day Be a Holiday? Here Are Some Pros Georgia had the 12th-highest turnout in the country in 2018, with 57% participation. WebElection Campaign Cons. 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. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. A number of bills like the Weekend Voting Act have been proposed in Congress over the years, often by Democrats. Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. 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. It needs better voters, people who have some vague notion of what theyre voting for or against, not just people practicing identity politics or voting with their political tribe. Funding by lobbyists is a big problem. 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. To have a democratic society, we need to restructure government and elections. Benson is dreaming big, and in doing so shes getting out in front of a lot of the conspiracy fueled calls for election reform from some Republicans. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. In India, for example, a polling place is required within two kilometers (about a mile) of every single person in the country of 1.4 billion. 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. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. make Election Day So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. Way too many Americans are voting already. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. 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. Thats not to say no one has tried. Election Day National Holiday Colorado College recently decided to give students the day off on Nov. 3. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg). The bill had zero co-sponsors and went In the Golden State, a majority of voters make their choices by mail rather than going to polling places on Election Day. And these two nuggets, stashed inside Section 1903. Election Day However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. All rights reserved. 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. But thats not guarantor of a higher turnout. And if they get sick on Monday, the day before the election theyre not trying to get an emergency ballot, or something like that. 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. Presidential Election History.