[8], In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. 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. Turning Election Day into a national holiday would instill a sense of pride in all citizens, knowing they have the ability to cast a ballot regardless of work. Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. Most others are not so recent, but still not so old: Taiwan's, for example, goes back to a 1911 uprising. 3. October 26, 2020 / 10:57 AM Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. Omissions? Tuesday is Election Day, but only in some parts of the country will voters get the day off to cast their ballots. 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. 1, which adds a new paid holiday for federal employees every other year. Others have suggested making Veterans Day (Nov. 11), which is already a paid national holiday, Election Day. It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil . For rest of the festival holidays the declaration . Countries like Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico also showed high voter turnout rates by having holidays. Traditionally on weekends. TOP QUESTION 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those countries. Understanding what happened in the Chicago mayoral race. 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. Of these countries, 27 hold their national elections on a weekend. National and Festival Holiday Act, which is applicable to all establishments in the country, irrespective of under which law it is formed it is mandatory to grant leave on following 3 days, i.e. In some of these countries, voting is compulsory, and in most of them, Election Day is a holiday. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? A surprising map of the worlds national holidays (only two countries have no national day), Belarus sentences Nobel Peace laureate Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in jail, This is Bidens chance to press Scholz on Germanys rearmament, Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting over Bakhmut. All 435 representatives were up for re-election, as well as a third ofsenators, and countless elections for governors, mayors, state legislators, and local government across the country. 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. Explain your answers. 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. Delaware Hawaii Kentucky Louisiana Montana New Jersey New York Ohio Puerto Rico Virginia West Virginia While Tuesdays have been custom for elections in the United States, Sunday is the day of. A number of bills like the Weekend Voting Act have been proposed in Congress over the years, often by Democrats. 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. Other countries may only require it of certain people, and otherwise make it voluntary for others. It's a reminder of turmoil of the last century a very short span in historical terms and how deeply its events influence the world today. American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. Maybe that could give us some hint as to the frequent foreign sensitivities and accusations, right or wrong, about Western foreign policy echoing old colonial practices. Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: Given this, an Election Day holiday would remove a significant barrier to participation for relatively well-to-do potential voters while doing little to make voting easier for a significant. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. [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. 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.. Declaring Election Day a holiday has been proposed various times in Congress; it's a popular idea. 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. Updates? Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. 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." From 2021, the first Sunday of June. It would take an act of Congress to make Election Day a national holiday, and there is currently a bill proposing to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday before a special committee. 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. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. Litigation pending before the Supreme Court this term in Brnovich v. DNC, however, threatens to undermine this rule. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The U.S. lags scores of other countries in election participation, ranking 26th out of 32 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the Pew. Election Day is observed on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, taking place on November 7 this year. Last week his office released a list of voting rights provisions he would support. The United States has held federal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years since 1845. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday. 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). Why or why not? 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. But it is not a federal holiday. 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. Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. Tuesday was chosen because it was most convenient for farmers traveling by horse and buggy at the time. Puerto Rico's voter turnout has gone as high as 80 . 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. And she thinks corporate America has been leading the way, pointing out several businesses, including Walmart and Coca-Cola, that have announced paid time off and other accommodations to make voting easier for employees on November 3. Pew also found that certain issues motivate voters more than others: "health care, poverty and education are the top motivators for political engagement." [26] Creating laws in all states that let people vote before or after work would be more effective than a national holiday, which would quickly be viewed as just another day off to enjoy. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be. ", "An overall look at Vietnam's election law", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Election_day&oldid=1136894393. The US isn't the only developed country that faces this criticism, however. Mr. CHRISTENSEN: One of the biggest countries that uses compulsory voting is Australia. [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. 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey agrees. And. In 2007, the country held the world's first general Internet election. 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. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. There's nothing that would stop voters here from treating a Democracy Day like just another day off.". Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. Start the discussion over on our Facebook page, and let us know about civic engagement in your town, state, or country! [ 18][ 19] Con 1 Estonia This tiny Baltic nation is making waves for introducing something that seems completely logical in the digital age -- online voting. Vanita Gupta, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights, is working to increase voter participation and decrease voter disenfranchisement. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. Presidential and semipresidential systems, Constituencies: districting and apportionment. 3. In the US, Election Day is not a national holiday. This is the day we cast ballots to select public officials from local to the national government. Whether election day in the United States should be made a national holiday is debated. In Switzerland, only one canton (or member state) requires voting; it is voluntary all other cantons of the country. An ordinary act of Congress could move Election Day to a Saturday or make it a holiday, thereby giving more people more . During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. Even among the nine weekday voting countries, South Korea's and Israel's voters take a day off work on the day of the election to ensure higher electoral participation. 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. 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. 1. So the question of how you label Ireland goes back to which holiday you consider its national day. 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. [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. But some think it should be. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. ", ProCon.org. Canada's turnout is about the same as the United States', with an average of 68%, and though one canton in Switzerland has a compulsory voting law, for the country as a whole turnout is around 49%, one of the lowest rates in OECD countries. Virginia joined these states in April this year. 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. 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. [26] Caravanas are joyful, noisy parades of cars festooned with flags and other decorations that stream through Puerto Ricos streets ahead of an election and are credited with the islands over 80% voter turnout. 11 July (Tuesday): Celebration of the Golden Spurs (Day of the Flemish Community) - celebrates the victory of the count of Flanders and the borough militia against the king of France outside Courtrai. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. History of Election Day He thinks the increased options afforded by early and mail-in voting could be undermined by making Election Day a holiday, creating "a solution in search of a problem.". Compared to other developed countries, America's voter turnout rate is pretty sad. a list of voting rights provisions he would support. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. Last Tuesday was election day in the United States, and this year we voted in the midterm elections. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. Election Day is a state holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York. 5. 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. We're familiar with how voting works in the U.S.when we vote, how we vote, who we vote forbut do you know what voting is like in other countries around the world? "With the variety of challenges that election officials face, [making Election Day a holiday] is well down on the list of those things that need to be addressed," Becker said. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. It worked. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [31]. Executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research David Becker argues that increasing turnout is a nuanced problem that can't be fixed by declaring a holiday. Should the United States use the Electoral College in presidential elections? The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Election Day is already a holiday for state employees in more than a dozen states including Kentucky, Michigan, and New York. Runoffs take place on the last Sunday of the same October. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." I think, to the best of my knowledge, it's something like $20. And even if it were a federal holiday, that wouldn't ensure that all voting-age Americans would have the day off. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria's election commission announced the first results late Sunday from the country's closely watched presidential election, but it could days . Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. 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 . 20, 2018, Annie McDonald, "Ensuring Access to Election Day for All, bppj.berkely.edu, Nov. 6, 2018, Suzanne Lucas, "No, Election Day Should Not Be a Federal Holiday, inc.com, Oct. 24, 2016, Kenneth Quinnell, "Know Your Rights: State Laws on Employee Time off to Vote, aflicio.org, Nov. 5, 2016, Osita Nwanevu, "Maybe Making Election Day a National Holiday Wouldnt Really Work, slate.com, Nov. 3, 2016, Abigail Hess, "A Record 44% of US Employers Will Give Their Workers Paid Time off to Vote This Year, cnbc.com, Oct. 31, 2018, Make Time to Vote, homepage, maketimetovote.org (accessed Sep. 24, 2019), Rose Marcario, "Time to Vote, patagonia.com, Sep. 24, 2018, Danielle Root and Liz Kennedy, "Increasing Voter Participation in America, americanprogress.org, July 11, 2018, Kelly Born, "Increasing Voter Turnout: What, If Anything, Can Be Done?, ssir.org, Apr.
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