Hailey said the country needs a "cultural shift" to prioritize voting. 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. We are very proud that we are mentioned in the Bible. Tuesday was chosen because it was most convenient for farmers traveling by horse and buggy at the time. Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Four more states only provide time off for biennial, even-year elections: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan and New Hampshire. 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. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? - HuffPost I think, to the best of my knowledge, it's something like $20. 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. 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. Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. "Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Sanders' website reads. 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. To make Election Day a national holiday, it would take an act of Congress, and so far, no bills proposing such action have passed. The earliest possible date that Election Day can fall on is November 2nd, and the latest possible date is November 8th. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. Most recently, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont proposed a bill to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday, which sits before a special committee. [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. Accessed February 21, 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. 3. of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and 59% of Republicans and GOP leaners said they would support making Election Day a national holiday. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. Some countries, about 27 of them, make voting compulsory. For federal offices (president, vice president, and United States Congress) and most gubernatorial offices (all except for . 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2018, the general election was held on Wednesday. Concentrating voters into a single day risks congesting polling places, even more so than some already are. Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. 0:58. What we're proposing isn't that every Election Day becomes a national holiday, just the presidential election, which only takes place once every four years. Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. 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. Virginia joined these states in April this year. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. Japan formally celebrates the anniversary of an ancient mythical emperor, although the holiday is mostly ignored today, due in part to its connections with Japan's ugly imperial history. 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. 5. Veterans Day typically is about one week after Election Day so this would involve little disruption in terms of job schedules and monthly routines. Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Defense lawyers in Idaho killings case want gag order kept, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? That means the stock market will be open, and so will. Such a change would mostly benefit white-collar workers instead of the lower-income workers its designed to help. It's amazing how much of the map is green, indicating countries that celebrate a national independence day every year. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - The Atlantic 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. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. #FridayNight | #FridayNight | By Citizen TV Kenya - Facebook Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. There is a "need to make voting more accessible, to make it more of a civic duty, to make sure that people don't have to choose between their job and their ability to cast the ballot are issues that are more prominent today than ever before," she told CBS News. 27 September (Wednesday): Day of the French-speaking Community - commemorates the victory of the patriots against the Dutch army in Brussels in 1830. - Zkon o podmienkach vkonu volebnh", "The Effectiveness of Early Voting A Case Study of the Republic of Korea", "Ley Orgnica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Rgimen Electoral General", "Elections in Venezuela and Pennsylvania: Lessons in Democracy? South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. We also know that countries that have marked their election days as federal events see higher voting turnouts than the United States. 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." 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 . Corrections? Operated 24:7 through the week. As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. 2. Experts told CBS News that it's no coincidence this is occurring in a year when Americans have more time and more ways to vote than ever before. Tuesday was selected because it was the most convenient. Would turnout go up if we didn't have to vote on a workday? 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. The number of early votes cast before Election Day 2020, as of Nov. 1, neared the 100 million mark according to data aggregated by the U.S. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue . But none of those states have considerably high turnout compared to those where it isn't a holiday. The founding fathers at first only granted white, male property owners the right to vote, so the expansion of voting rights has taken some time. With just about six in 10 voters turning out to vote in the U.S., some civil rights advocates are arguing that it's about time to give Americans the day off to vote. Omissions? Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? 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. People literally cannot get to the polling booth because it may close at 7 o'clock and they're working later. 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. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? 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. While young people are generally less likely to vote, they are more motivated by the issue of freedom of speech than older generations. Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. And so while it's very understandable that people are trying to find ways to make it more convenient for people to vote, it's very likely that Election Day as a national holiday would actually hurt the voters who most need more options," Becker said. 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global Citizen Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? November 7, 2023. He says it's more important to spread voting out over a period of days and methods. Image 2. Georgia grassroots groups helped Biden win. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. Public holidays in Belgium in 2022 and 2023 | Expatica A Pew Research Center analysis finds that 27 of the 36 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development hold their national elections on the weekend, . Is Election Day a Holiday in Your State? | RepresentUs 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. Runoffs take place on the last Sunday of the same October. as well as other partner offers and accept our. So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. A 2018 Pew survey found that the majority of Americans (65%) would be in favor of turning Election Day into a national holiday that includes 71% of Democratic-leaning voters and 59% of Republican-leaning voters. An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation.Many countries commemorate their independence from a colonial empire.. Not all countries mark independence as a national holiday. Regional Belgian public holidays during 2023. Election Day in USA in 2023 | Office Holidays ELECTION DAY - November 7, 2023 - National Today In Switzerland, only one canton (or member state) requires voting; it is voluntary all other cantons of the country. Saudi Arabia's marks the 1932 unification of the country. Saturday, but can be any day of the week, such as when a Saturday conflicts with a holiday. Declaring Election Day a holiday has been proposed various times in Congress; it's a popular idea. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. In 2007, the country held the world's first general Internet election. List two to three ways. 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. Why Election Day Isn't a National Holiday in the US - Business Insider Where Is Election Day a Holiday? - Ms. Magazine Voter turnout in the United States is usually considered low, especially in years without a presidential election. The COVID-19 pandemic convinced. The United States has held federal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years since 1845. [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. 2. [ 18][ 19] Con 1 The U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. First published on October 26, 2020 / 10:57 AM. 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. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. 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. 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. Americans are working all the time. 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. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. 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. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. For more information on how to vote, head over to our TurboVote module. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. 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. From 2021, the first Sunday of June. The correct answer is B. Advertisement Advertisement marberman marberman Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. In Australia, all citizens of age to vote are required, and if they fail to do so, they face fines. Sundays are the most common day for elections, but this is less true in the Anglosphere; Saturdays are used in New Zealand and Australia, and weekdays for the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. All rights reserved. The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday. 3. To paraphrase one of the commenters on the Reddit thread, is certainly is ironic that the British empire that is indirectly responsible for so many of the world's independence days has no real national day of its own. Election Day in the United States is the annual day for general elections of federal public officials.It is statutorily set by the U.S. government as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November", i.e. Some countries use electronic voting machines, such as India, while others rely on paper ballots, such as Zimbabwe. And that election saw the second highest voter turnout in 20 years. Especially given that 65% of Americans support making election day a national holiday and 43% of voters already live in one of the 19 states with some form of voting holiday. "And we actually have more options than ever before.". Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. For example, in Ecuador, only literate citizens between 18 and 65 are required to vote; those over 65 or who are not literateare not required. Portugal celebrates the 1580 death of celebrated national poet Luis de Camoes, Spain celebrates Columbus Day (yes, the holiday is a little controversial there as well, although not as much as in the U.S.), the Netherlands celebrates the queen's birthday but it still use her mother's birthday for the date and, in Greenland, the celebrate the longest day of the year. National Days around the world | Office Holidays 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. They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. Updated: 7:01 AM EST November 2, 2020 ATLANTA For many Americans, voting on Election Day is a tradition, and some wonder why it's not a national holiday. Election results only announced for 1 of Nigeria's 36 states 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. To look through the stats for voter turnout for other countries, you can visit the website for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and explore the data. 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. Thats not to say no one has tried. Others have suggested making Veterans Day (Nov. 11), which is already a paid national holiday, Election Day. (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.). US voter turnout trails most developed countries. 1. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. Skip Navigation Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do. [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal holiday. Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Nine states classify general elections as holidays: Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia. Disclaimer: Dates and Events correct at time of printing but may change without our knowledge. A lot of people go to work, or they're in school during the weekday. 26K views, 1.2K likes, 65 loves, 454 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Citizen TV Kenya: #FridayNight Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the . Early voting for the midterms varies by state. 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. "We already know how to make voting convenient to voters that's by offering them options, like making an election season rather than election day," he said. Over the course of three days, Estonians could vote by placing their state-issued ID cards (which have an electronic chip . Rather, federal elections are held on the third Monday of October, every four years . It would give people time to vote. Sign up to receive a weekly email update on forthcoming public holidays around the world in your inbox every Sunday. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. But it is not a federal holiday. Election day should be a national holidayCommentary - CNBC Rather than make it a national holiday where inevitably people will still have to work, change election day to election week. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. This article was published more than10 years ago. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. Have you experienced an election day in another country, or do you know how voting works in a place we haven't mentioned here? Should Election Day Be a Holiday? Here Are Some Pros and Cons 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. There are many ways to boost voter turnout expanding early voting, automatically registering voters, and improving civic education programs . With those options early in-person voting and more voter awareness on how to vote by mail voter turnout appears to be trending upward. Think about it. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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? Election Practices in Other Countries That America Could Learn From
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