It would give people time to vote. Could that ever happen in the U.S.? [36]. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. 1, which adds a new paid holiday for federal employees every other year. 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. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. In 2007, the country held the world's first general Internet election. 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. Whether election day in the United States should be made a national holiday is debated. 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. Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. [3] In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. Skip Navigation A lot of people go to work, or they're in school during the weekday. With those options early in-person voting and more voter awareness on how to vote by mail voter turnout appears to be trending upward. During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 18:43. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. 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. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. 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. Yet, few of us, especially those who have worked on Capitol Hill, harbor . ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? Given this, an Election Day holiday would remove a significant barrier to participation for relatively well-to-do potential voters while doing little to make voting easier for a significant. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. Voters in more than one-third of the country enjoy some form of an Election Day holiday, according to RepresentUs. Usually Wednesday. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits of a federal holiday are those who already struggle to vote, Shineman noted. 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%. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. John M. Cunningham, "Why Are U.S. Britain, after all, developed its political institutions pretty gradually, so there was no real "Bastille Day" moment that defines the modern nation. Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Explain your answers. 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). From 2021, the first Sunday of June. However, the issues vary among different demographic groups. It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. 3. At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. Most others are not so recent, but still not so old: Taiwan's, for example, goes back to a 1911 uprising. This . As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. Traditionally elections are held over two days, starting on a Friday afternoon and ending the following Saturday afternoon. "And we actually have more options than ever before.". Georgia grassroots groups helped Biden win. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Updates? Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. By comparison, Belgium reported the highest OECD voter turnout: 87.2% in the most recent national election. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? 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. Tuesday was selected because it was the most convenient. This map, inspired by a Reddit thread with a similar map, shows the national days of the world's countries. 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. Its hard to say. List two to three ways. 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. Election Day is observed on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, taking place on November 7 this year. It worked. In the US, Election Day is not a national holiday. No: Too Inconvenient, Early-Voting Options Ample, orlandosentinel.com, Nov. 5, 2018, Henry Farber, "Increasing Voter Turnout: Is Democracy Day the Answer?, princeton.edu, Feb. 2009, Sarah Issenberg, "The Mystery of the Puerto Rico Voter, slate.com, Jan. 27, 2012, Paul LeBlanc, "Virginia Governor Makes Election Day a Holiday and Expands Early Voting,". Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. 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. That's true, although the separate "National Day of Commemoration" occurs on the anniversary of the truce ending the Irish war of independence. Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. Why Election Day is Held on a Tuesday in November in the U.S. A Boatload of Ballots: Midterm Voter Turnout Hit 50-Year High, Estonia's i-voting: more secure, more popular, Macedonia referendum: Low voter turnout puts country's name change at risk, What Voting and Elections Look Like Around the World, X Marks the Choice: Voting Methods around the World, Defense Language and National Security Education Office. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who don't to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Most National Days are fixed, exceptions to this are shown below. 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. 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. (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.). Most National Days are fixed, exceptions to this are shown below. 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. Presidential and semipresidential systems, Constituencies: districting and apportionment. This is the day we cast ballots to select public officials from local to the national government. [2] Sundays were for rest and worship, and on Wednesdays farmers typically sold their crops at the market, making Tuesdays the best day of the week. 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. In Estonia, a national ID card (required for every citizen in the country) can be used to vote remotely. Sunday. Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. Pew also found that certain issues motivate voters more than others: "health care, poverty and education are the top motivators for political engagement." 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. [31][32] Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 3. After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? While some states have made Election Day a civic holiday (though it primarily applies to public workers) and most have laws that require companies to give employees some time off to vote, none of the legislative efforts to enact these changes on a national level have been successful. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. 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. 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. Omissions? And that election saw the second highest voter turnout in 20 years. Saudi Arabia's marks the 1932 unification of the country. In some of these countries, voting is compulsory, and in most of them, Election Day is a holiday. 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. In previous elections, that percentage was even higher. Elections Project, which is close to the complete voter . Hailey said the country needs a "cultural shift" to prioritize voting. But in many other countries, the government automatically registers voters and holds elections on days that are weekend days or national holidays. He concluded that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout. [34], Automatic voter registration, by contrast, could register an additional 22 million people and create 7.9 million new voters nationwide within a year. Lists national days around the world by country or date. There's nothing that would stop voters here from treating a Democracy Day like just another day off.". 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. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. 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 in the US voted during the 2016 presidential election. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. Israel and South Korea hold their elections on weekdays, but they're national holidays. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Election Day is not a national holiday in 2022, but some states require employees get paid time off to vote. Election day is a national holiday. First Sunday of October. 1. Election Day is already a holiday for state employees in more than a dozen states including Kentucky, Michigan, and New York. 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. 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. Americans are working all the time. 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. Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. In many other democracies around the world, national elections are held on the weekend or are a federal holiday. Australia sees around 91%, and 94% in Singapore. 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. Sunday: first Sunday of February for the President, Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly; second Sunday of February for municipal elections. Why or why not? ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria's election commission announced the first results late Sunday from the country's closely watched presidential election, but it could days . [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. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. Countries outpacing the U.S. include the U.K, Mexico and Canada. President Obama likes the idea of changing the way or the day Americans vote. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. As old as all of these societies are, their senses of national identity are commemorated by remarkably recent events. But some election analysts told CBS News that making Election Day a holiday is not a way to make voting easier. 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. 3. Even among the nine weekday voting countries, South Korea's and Israel's voters take a day off work on the day of the election to ensure higher electoral participation. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. All 435 representatives were up for re-election, as well as a third ofsenators, and countless elections for governors, mayors, state legislators, and local government across the country. It happens to be on the day the politicians themselves get elected. "Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Sanders' website reads. As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Not all of these marked the end of colonialism (for example, Austria's signifies the withdrawal of foreign militaries after World War II and the declaration of neutrality) but the vast majority do. 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. The US isn't the only developed country that faces this criticism, however. 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 the only advanced democracy that makes it deliberately difficult for people to vote. OK, so why Tuesday? The COVID-19 pandemic convinced. 0:58. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. 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. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. History of Election Day Corrections? Veterans Day typically is about one week after Election Day so this would involve little disruption in terms of job schedules and monthly routines. Should the United States use the Electoral College in presidential elections? Concentrating voters into a single day risks congesting polling places, even more so than some already are. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those . In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? 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. 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. Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. https://www.britannica.com/question/Should-election-day-be-made-a-national-holiday. 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. Four more states only provide time off for biennial, even-year elections: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan and New Hampshire. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Change often comes slowly, subtly. [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday. 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. [ 18][ 19] Con 1 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those countries. 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. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. This year, Election . 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. [31]. 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. TOP QUESTION Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. For other uses, see. 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. 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."
What Medicine To Take For Omicron At Home, Articles C