[31]. Election dates are determined by the General Elections Commission (Indonesian: Typically on a Friday, but precise date set by, Municipal, provincial, and regional elections take place on a Sunday, as do elections for the. 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. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. List two to three ways. People literally cannot get to the polling booth because it may close at 7 o'clock and they're working later. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. 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. Four more states only provide time off for biennial, even-year elections: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan and New Hampshire. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. Last modified on October 1, 2020. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. Explore which countries have weekend voting with Pew Research. 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. 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. Change often comes slowly, subtly. 26K views, 1.2K likes, 65 loves, 454 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Citizen TV Kenya: #FridayNight Hailey said the country needs a "cultural shift" to prioritize voting. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. An ordinary act of Congress could move Election Day to a Saturday or make it a holiday, thereby giving more people more . But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. If you make election day a federal holiday, youll have all the people who work in these types of jobs still having to work, being inundated with customers who have the day off and they wont have child care because the schools will be closed, Suzanne Lucas, who previously worked in human resources, wrote in a piece for Inc.com. Stay up to date with what you want to know. ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria's election commission announced the first results late Sunday from the country's closely watched presidential election, but it could days . Should Election Day be a national holiday? So, focusing voting efforts to one day doesn't do enough to accommodate everyone, Becker argues. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue . Veterans Day typically is about one week after Election Day so this would involve little disruption in terms of job schedules and monthly routines. Do you think it's time for the US to follow their lead? As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way . 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. And even if it were a federal holiday, that wouldn't ensure that all voting-age Americans would have the day off. Countries like Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico also showed high voter turnout rates by having holidays. Some countries, including Belgium and Turkey, see such high voter turnout mainly because of their compulsory voting laws. Georgias voter suppression bill is an assault on our democracy, Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills, Tracking regulatory changes in the Biden era. Sunday: first Sunday of February for the President, Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly; second Sunday of February for municipal elections. Countries that hold the ballot before Sunday are not permitted to announce results until all other countries have finished voting. 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. 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. And that election saw the second highest voter turnout in 20 years. 0:58. 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. At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. Operated 24:7 through the week. 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). 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. 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. 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. Think about that: In most of the world, the sense of national identity is shaped by the act of cutting, or in some cases violently throwing off, the chains of colonialism. It worked. All rights reserved. 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? Sweden came second with 82.6%. Election Day - Tuesday, Nov. 8 - is a special day, with voters casting ballots across the country. Georgia grassroots groups helped Biden win. 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. "Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Sanders' website reads. They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. In-person polls open Sunday at 12:01am, close Saturday at 11:59pm. 3. The United States has held federal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years since 1845. Virginia joined these states in April this year. In a number of states, polling places have been closed in minority neighborhoods, which has created long lines and tremendous inconvenience for affected votersinconvenience with a cost, especially for those paid hourly wages. Have you experienced an election day in another country, or do you know how voting works in a place we haven't mentioned here? Most of these 19 states' policies only cover general elections, though. Puerto Rico's voter turnout has gone as high as 80 . We are the only advanced democracy that makes it deliberately difficult for people to vote. Saudi Arabia's marks the 1932 unification of the country. These numbers also may be indicative of higher turnout for major elections, but may not reflect engagement in local or regional elections. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those countries. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. [31] Same-day registration boosts turnout by 5%, and universal implementation of it would have added as many as 4.8 million voters in the 2016 election, according to Danielle Root, JD, and Liz Kennedy, JD, from the Center for American Progress. 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. When turnout is high, it becomes increasingly fruitless for politicians to play to their base in ways that allow a vocal minority to rule, which is how many American leaders currently operate. 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. 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. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. 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." Argentina has instated compulsory voting laws, but only sees about 76% voter turnout. 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. In 1845, when Congress established a national election day, it had to be a Tuesday because farmers went to church on Sunday, went to market on Wednesday, and may have needed a day, Monday, to get to their polling place, Gil Troy an American presidential historian and McGill University professor told HuffPost. 1. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. Of the nonvoters surveyed by the US Census Bureau about the 2008 presidential election, the 2012 presidential election, and numerous other elections, the most commonly cited reason for not voting was being too busy or having conflicting work schedules. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? 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.. of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and 59% of Republicans and GOP leaners said they would support making Election Day a national holiday. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. That means the stock market will be open, and so will. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Washington's Birthday Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Constitution Day Election Day Veterans Day Bill of Rights Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on third Monday of January each year, near the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. In many other democracies around the world, national elections are held on the weekend or are a federal holiday. 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. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the other side of the issue now helps you better argue your position. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote; this year, a staggering 47.5%participated in the midterms, compared to 37% in 2014 and 41% in 2010, the years of other midterm elections. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. We are very proud that we are mentioned in the Bible. [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. [10][11]] 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. 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. Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. 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. That's true, although the separate "National Day of Commemoration" occurs on the anniversary of the truce ending the Irish war of independence. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Countries that have weekend or holiday elections do tend to have better turnout overall. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. The ideal solution is simple: Congress should make Election Day a national holiday, or move Election Day to the weekend. Should election day be made a national holiday? 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. Modern life operates around the clock. In Estonia, a national ID card (required for every citizen in the country) can be used to vote remotely. 0:00. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. "Election day should be a national holiday" is a claim of policy because we are discussing a policy which searches a solution for the presented argument. Roughly 138 million Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election, just 61.4% of the 214,109,360 million who were registered to vote, according to The U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Lessons in How to Hold Elections", "GE2015: First time Polling Day falls on a Friday, but not first time polls held on a weekday", "180/2014 Z.z. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. However, the issues vary among different demographic groups. While young people are generally less likely to vote, they are more motivated by the issue of freedom of speech than older generations. According to Pew Research data, US voter turnout trails most developed countries. In fact, in Estonia, the option tovoteonlineis becoming increasingly popular. In Australia, all citizens of age to vote are required, and if they fail to do so, they face fines. But it is not a federal holiday. Britain, after all, developed its political institutions pretty gradually, so there was no real "Bastille Day" moment that defines the modern nation. President Obama likes the idea of changing the way or the day Americans vote. Presented by:Defense Language and National Security Education Office, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote, looked at a few different methods of voting. And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' 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. We also know that countries that have marked their election days as federal events see higher voting turnouts than the United States. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. But some election analysts told CBS News that making Election Day a holiday is not a way to make voting easier. 26 th January (Republic Day), 15 th August (Independence Day) and 2 nd October (Gandhi Jayanti). 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. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. So, workers having a day off to vote wouldn't be a disruption to the economy, or anything a citizen of our country could deny would be worthwhile and smart thing to do. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? / CBS News. But in many other countries, the government automatically registers voters and holds elections on days that are weekend days or national holidays. Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. But while experts say such a scheme is unlikely to fly in the US, making it easier for people to vote would appear to be a step in the right direction. Some countries, about 27 of them,make voting compulsory. 2. Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. 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. Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. 1. Rather than make it a national holiday where inevitably people will still have to work, change election day to election week. a list of voting rights provisions he would support. 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. Take, for example, Bhutan, which every celebrates the anniversary of Ugyen Wangchuck's 1907 election as the nation's first hereditary king (yes, you read that correctly), but not its 1949 independence. US voter turnout trails most developed countries. Usually Wednesday. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Election Day should be a holiday for workers in the United States, President Joe Biden said on Thursday. Right now, federal elections are always held on Tuesdays, because farmers in the 1840s needed multiple days to get to the . First published on October 26, 2020 / 10:57 AM. But some think it should be. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. This article is about the general term "election day" worldwide. Russia's national holiday only goes back to 1992, when the Russian Federation was founded. 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. 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 . I think, to the best of my knowledge, it's something like $20. Early voting for the midterms varies by state. Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. 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. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. Such a change would mostly benefit white-collar workers instead of the lower-income workers its designed to help. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. In some states where they don't have mail-in ballots, voting can take a lot of time out of the day. Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States. 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.