Regional Belgian public holidays during 2023. One major reason: It comes down to tradition, Troy said. America is walking the knifes edge between maintaining and losing democracy. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. February 26, 2023, 5:06 AM. 2020, Virginia. 26K views, 1.2K likes, 65 loves, 454 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Citizen TV Kenya: #FridayNight The U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. However, for the most part, most countries vote in person at the voting booth, and while countries may alter the length of election periods andthe equipment used in voting from election to election, it still tends to have many of the same features. Disclaimer: Dates and Events correct at time of printing but may change without our knowledge. 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. While countries like Belgium, Sweden, and Turkey saw more than 80% of their estimated voting-age population cast votes in recent elections, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population. 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. The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. About 54 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the 2012 presidential contest between Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, according to the Pew Research Center. 1. 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. "And we actually have more options than ever before.". However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. Estonia is the only country to fully adopt online voting, but other countries, such as Australia, Canada, and Norway, have looked into pursuing it as an option in the future. the Tuesday that occurs within November 2 to November 8. [8], In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. 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. [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. The U.S. is one of only nine member nations that have weekday voting. Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. by country by date The earliest possible date that Election Day can fall on is November 2nd, and the latest possible date is November 8th. Voter turnout in the United States is usually considered low, especially in years without a presidential election. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? 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. And. 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. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. 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. 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. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the . 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. [14][35] In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbeques nationwide, resulting in turnout rates around 90%. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Concentrating voters into a single day risks congesting polling places, even more so than some already are. 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. But some election analysts told CBS News that making Election Day a holiday is not a way to make voting easier. Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. 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. Britain, after all, developed its political institutions pretty gradually, so there was no real "Bastille Day" moment that defines the modern nation. 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. ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. I think, to the best of my knowledge, it's something like $20. November 7, 2023. Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria's election commission announced the first results late Sunday from the country's closely watched presidential election, but it could days . Lists national days around the world by country or date. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). - 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. Countries which permit absentee ballots, early ballots or postal votes to be cast by mail before the election avoid the problem altogether by enabling voters to vote on a day that is more convenient to them. 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. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? 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. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. 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. 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. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. "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. Yet, few of us, especially those who have worked on Capitol Hill, harbor . 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. Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. 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. 27 September (Wednesday): Day of the French-speaking Community - commemorates the victory of the patriots against the Dutch army in Brussels in 1830. 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. In Switzerland, only one canton (or member state) requires voting; it is voluntary all other cantons of the country. Why or why not? "While this would not be a cure-all, it would indicate a national commitment to create a more vibrant democracy.". Third Monday of October every four years, or after Parliament is dissolved by the. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. Image 2. 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. So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. While the Republican efforts are shrouded in their supposed desire to protect the integrity of elections, there is no evidence of significant voter fraud in recent elections, including presidential election in 2020. https://www.britannica.com/question/Should-election-day-be-made-a-national-holiday. This article is about the general term "election day" worldwide. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. President Obama likes the idea of changing the way or the day Americans vote. 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. 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." ", "An overall look at Vietnam's election law", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Election_day&oldid=1136894393. [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Establishing Election Day as a holiday, taken together with the pending federal voting rights reforms, would go a long way towards stabilizing democracy and ensuring basic democratic rights. 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. [1], An election day usually culminates in an election night when the results of the election are tallied and winners are announced.[2]. 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. Sunday: first Sunday of February for the President, Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly; second Sunday of February for municipal elections. Updates? And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who don't to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. (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.). There are many ways to boost voter turnout expanding early voting, automatically registering voters, and improving civic education programs . But while . Explore which countries have weekend voting with Pew Research. The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. Over the course of three days, Estonians could vote by placing their state-issued ID cards (which have an electronic chip . In Australia, all citizens of age to vote are required, and if they fail to do so, they face fines. Currently, 22 countries around the world have mandatory voting, and ten of those countries enforce the policy, including Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Peru, and Switzerland. Tuesday was chosen because it was most convenient for farmers traveling by horse and buggy at the time. Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. 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. It is set by statute as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November.". Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. 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. As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. Americans are working all the time. Making the presidential election a national holiday is another way to get people to the polls. Last week his office released a list of voting rights provisions he would support. There are some exceptions; as Wednesday was not covered by the available dates, the Netherlands holds elections on Thursday, while Denmark holds elections on Sunday. 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 politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. Sometimes, specific ballot measures can influence voter turnout: in the UK, the Brexit vote resulted in a 72% turnout, slightly higher than the average of 69%. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 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. 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.". Nine states classify general elections as holidays: Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia. Examine this opinion article from Evil HR Lady Suzanne Lucas on why election day should not be a national holiday. In Thailand, one of the very few countries outside of Europe that was never formally colonized, the king's birthday is celebrated (don't insult him or you might go to jail, per the lese majeste laws). ", Others, however, are skeptical that creating a national holiday would increase voter turnout. Do you think it's time for the US to follow their lead? Traditionally on weekends. 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. List two to three ways. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. [12], The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday, according to Archon Fung, PhD, and Jane Mansbridge, PhD, professors at the Harvard Kennedy School. For other uses, see. All federal elections take place the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Operated 24:7 through the week. 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. Election day is a national holiday. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. Topics Explainers Politics US Evergreen US Explainers YOU MIGHT LIKE Explain your answer. In some states where they don't have mail-in ballots, voting can take a lot of time out of the day. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. 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. Think about it. 5. More people would vote if they had more time to cast their ballots Furthermore, celebrating our democracy publicly would send the message that we value each others citizenship as much as we value honoring past presidents. [13], Donald Green, PhD, Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, found that nonpartisan community parties celebrating Election Day in 2005, 2006, and 2016 increased voter participation between 2.6 percentage points and about 4 percentage points. 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. Last modified on October 1, 2020. 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. Most National Days are fixed, exceptions to this are shown below. [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). [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. 3. 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). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. [16]. Thats not to say no one has tried. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. As old as all of these societies are, their senses of national identity are commemorated by remarkably recent events. And in Australia, there is a fine. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 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. 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 . 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. [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. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. Election Day is a state holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? [14], Pew Research Center found that 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support making Election Day a federal holiday. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? 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 Research Center. Incidentally, Australia routinely reaches more than 90. A lot of people go to work, or they're in school during the weekday. During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. 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. [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. 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.
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