Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. And. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Younger generations are also more likely to participate in political discussions online, which shows that a move towards digitizing the political and voting processes may not be too far off. 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. A number of bills like the Weekend Voting Act have been proposed in Congress over the years, often by Democrats. 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. Newsweek subscription offers > "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. 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. ", Obama: "Absolutely. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. But while . Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. Tuesday is Election Day, but only in some parts of the country will voters get the day off to cast their ballots. As of mid-May Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills that would reduce the hours polls are open; forbid people from eating or drinking while waiting in line to vote; close voter registration on Sundays, when Black churches traditionally have organized their members to register and vote; repeal no excuse absentee voting; and create a long list of other barriers to voting. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and 59% of Republicans and GOP leaners said they would support making Election Day a national holiday. But it is not a federal holiday. Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: Sweden came second with 82.6%. 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. The U.S. is one of only nine member nations that have weekday voting. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. Is Election Day a federal holiday? Here's what is open, closed Tuesday 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. Research has found that higher trust in the government and democratic process leads to greater voter turnout. Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. Election Day (United States) - Wikipedia So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. Voters in more than one-third of the country enjoy some form of an Election Day holiday, according to RepresentUs. 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global Citizen [10][11]] 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. But these days, Tuesdays are actually quite inconvenient for many Americans, particularly those who cant take time off work to cast their ballots a problem that disproportionately affects Black, Latino and lower-income voters. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. 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. Explain your answer. 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. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. And there is no better way to secure democracy than to ensure that everyone has not only the right to vote, but also the meaningful opportunity to cast their ballots. Have you experienced an election day in another country, or do you know how voting works in a place we haven't mentioned here? Consider, for example, the national days of France and Germany: the former marks the French revolution, in 1789, and the latter marks the German reunification in 1990. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. The correct answer is B. Advertisement Advertisement marberman marberman Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off According to Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus, Australia adopted compulsory voting in 1924 after turnout there dropped to less than 60 percent in 1922. For other uses, see. 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. Most National Days are fixed, exceptions to this are shown below. There are many ways to boost voter turnout expanding early voting, automatically registering voters, and improving civic education programs . Where Is Election Day a Holiday? - Ms. Magazine 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. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the . A surprising map of the world's national holidays (only two countries First Sunday of July until 2018. The earliest possible date that Election Day can fall on is November 2nd, and the latest possible date is November 8th. 1, which adds a new paid holiday for federal employees every other year. [ 18][ 19] Con 1 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. 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. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. Puerto Rico's voter turnout has gone as high as 80 . 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. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. Image 2. 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. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard 2) Most other countries are shaped by relatively recent revolutions. 3) Britain and Denmark have no national days. [20][21][22] A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off for a national holiday. Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. 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. 2020, Virginia. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. Other countries may only require it of certain people, and otherwise make it voluntary for others. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 18:43. That too is a reminder as to how new many of the ideas from that century, such as full enfranchisement and national self-determination, really are. 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. Managing Editor With those options early in-person voting and more voter awareness on how to vote by mail voter turnout appears to be trending upward. 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. Most National Days are fixed, exceptions to this are shown below. (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.). It is set by statute as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November.". 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. And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. But some think it should be. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. If so, how? 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. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. Countries that hold the ballot before Sunday are not permitted to announce results until all other countries have finished voting. 0:58. Most others are not so recent, but still not so old: Taiwan's, for example, goes back to a 1911 uprising. But Gupta said that there's been a "lack of political will" to give the initiative some momentum. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Sunday. Right now, federal elections are always held on Tuesdays, because farmers in the 1840s needed multiple days to get to the . 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. Explore which countries have weekend voting with Pew Research. After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? By Monday morning, nearly 60 million had already voted early across the country, closing in on half of 2016's total voter turnout. So the question of how you label Ireland goes back to which holiday you consider its national day. https://www.britannica.com/question/Should-election-day-be-made-a-national-holiday. Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. What if Election Day were a holiday? - USA TODAY National Days around the world | Office Holidays High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. 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. The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday for federal elections, meaning non-essential federal employees would get a paid day off. While no state has proposed reinstating the literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses that effectively ended the burst of African-American franchise during Reconstruction, todays efforts to disenfranchise minority voters are similarly unsubtle. The United States is out of step with the rest of the world: elections are held on weekends in 27 of the 36 OECD countries. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. On Sunday, Virginia Democratic Gov. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Meanwhile, in Macedonia this past September, voters chose to stay away from the polls because of the proposed name change for the country. For starters, the United States is rather unique in that it schedules its election day on a weekday, let alone a Tuesday. But experts say improving voter turnout is a complicated issue that no single silver bullet strategy can solve. 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. 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). As old as all of these societies are, their senses of national identity are commemorated by remarkably recent events. Corrections? Sunday: the second Sunday of March for Congress, and the second Sunday of May for President and Vice President. In-person polls open Sunday at 12:01am, close Saturday at 11:59pm. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. We also know that countries that have marked their election days as federal events see higher voting turnouts than the United States. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. On U.S. Election Day, A Look At How Others Vote : NPR Could that ever happen in the U.S.? Election Day National Holiday - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org This is the day we cast ballots to select public officials from local to the national government. [1] The decision was made taking into account farmers, a large portion of the voting constituency at the time, who would not have been able to travel to polling places in winter months or during planting or harvest times. As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way . February 26, 2023, 5:06 AM. In Sweden, for example, 83% of registered voters participated in the 2014 national . 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. 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. Compared to other developed countries, America's voter turnout rate is pretty sad. But in many other countries, the government automatically registers voters and holds elections on days that are weekend days or national holidays. 2. Why not make Election Day a national holiday? - CBS News Should Election Day in the U.S. be a national holiday? 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. [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. And even if it were a federal holiday, that wouldn't ensure that all voting-age Americans would have the day off. First Sunday of October. [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. Instead, lawmakers could simply move nearby Veterans Day to Election Day, emphasizing that voting is both a service to the country and a celebration of the rights and freedoms for which our servicemembers fight. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off Plus, some experts say moving to weekend voting could substantially increase the cost of running elections. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. 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. 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those countries. 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. Some countries, about 27 of them,make voting compulsory. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. [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). 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. 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.. Currently, 22 countries around the world have mandatory voting, and ten of those countries enforce the policy, including Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Peru, and Switzerland. [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. 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. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. 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. Saturday, but can be any day of the week, such as when a Saturday conflicts with a holiday. [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. Making the presidential election a national holiday is another way to get people to the polls. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? - HuffPost Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. [8], In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election Litigation pending before the Supreme Court this term in Brnovich v. DNC, however, threatens to undermine this rule. Today in my country it is a national holiday as we celebrate the day when St. Paul converted our whole country to Catholicism in AD 60. CBS News reporter covering climate change and energy. Where is Election Day a holiday? - The Fulcrum Do you think it's time for the US to follow their lead? / CBS News. Why are other countries better at conducting elections than we are? Is Election Day a federal holiday? | The US Sun 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Compulsory voting does not necessarily guarantee 100% turnout rates, however, though they still see higher rates than countries which do not require it. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. 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. Start the discussion over on our Facebook page, and let us know about civic engagement in your town, state, or country! 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. 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). 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. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. Is Election Day a federal holiday? Updates? Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - Homepage | Morningside Center for Disclaimer: Dates and Events correct at time of printing but may change without our knowledge. 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. Patriotic Holidays | National Archives Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. 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. 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. In 2018, a Pewstudy found that 65% of Americans favored making Election Day a national holiday. [16]. At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. We are very proud that we are mentioned in the Bible. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Mr. CHRISTENSEN: One of the biggest countries that uses compulsory voting is Australia. Sign up to receive a weekly email update on forthcoming public holidays around the world in your inbox every Sunday. 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. 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. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Battleground Tracker: Tight race in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham appears before Georgia grand jury, House Jan. 6 committee is having conversations with Justice Department, Georgia grand jury investigating Trump wants testimony from Giuliani, Graham, Trump election interference grand jury to hear from Raffensperger, DHS IG says Wolf changed intel report on Russian interference in 2020.