[1], An election day usually culminates in an election night when the results of the election are tallied and winners are announced.[2]. Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. 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. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. Voting Around the World - Home | CultureReady All federal elections take place the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 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%. In an interview published Thursday, President Obama endorsed the idea of holding U.S. federal elections on weekends or national holidays. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. Australia sees around 91%, and 94% in Singapore. Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. Research has found that higher trust in the government and democratic process leads to greater voter turnout. 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." 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. People literally cannot get to the polling booth because it may close at 7 o'clock and they're working later. 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. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. Of these countries, 27 hold their national elections on a weekend. Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. 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. Think about it. At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? 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. In 2018, the general election was held on Wednesday. Currently, 22 countries around the world have mandatory voting, and ten of those countries enforce the policy, including Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Peru, and Switzerland. The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off 26 th January (Republic Day), 15 th August (Independence Day) and 2 nd October (Gandhi Jayanti). 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. Why not make Election Day a national holiday? - CBS News This . Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. It would give people time to vote. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. Countries outpacing the U.S. include the U.K, Mexico and Canada. It's Time to Make Election Day a National Holiday (Once - HuffPost Make election day a national holiday : r/WhitePeopleTwitter - reddit Election officials in various states have predicted historic levels of turnout in 2020, with a chance to reach the highest ever. 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. 4. 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. Because the impact of a federal holiday is far-reaching, many states and workplaces would likely follow suit. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. Whether election day should be made a national holiday is debated. Election day should be a national holidayCommentary - CNBC The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits of a federal holiday are those who already struggle to vote, Shineman noted. 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. Theyare still considerably higher than in the United States, which typically sees about 65% on average turn out to vote for major elections. Why isn't Election Day a national holiday in the US? - KHOU 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. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. [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. 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. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. Usually Wednesday. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. Is Election Day a federal holiday? Here's what is open, closed Tuesday Election Day in USA in 2023 | Office Holidays Compulsory voting does not necessarily guarantee 100% turnout rates, however, though they still see higher rates than countries which do not require it. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 2020, Virginia. ", "An overall look at Vietnam's election law", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Election_day&oldid=1136894393. Rather than make it a national holiday where inevitably people will still have to work, change election day to election week. [23], Annie McDonald, Editor of the Berkeley Public Policy Journal, noted that the workers who are least likely to get paid holidays are those who already have less of a voice in the political process: Americans working in retail, hospitality, and service jobs, for example, would most likely not receive the benefit of a paid holiday to vote. Election Day - Tuesday, Nov. 8 - is a special day, with voters casting ballots across the country. Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? Will the party listen to them on the issues? The US isn't the only developed country that faces this criticism, however. Could that ever happen in the U.S.? "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. Accessed February 21, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/election-day-national-holiday-top-3-pros-and-cons/, potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day, election day should not be a national holiday. 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. Traditionally elections are held over two days, starting on a Friday afternoon and ending the following Saturday afternoon. 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. 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. Election Day should be a 'day off,' U.S. President Joe Biden says Argentina has instated compulsory voting laws, but only sees about 76% voter turnout. 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. 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. Compared to other developed countries, America's voter turnout rate is pretty sad. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. 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. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. 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. 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. And in Australia, there is a fine. #FridayNight | #FridayNight | By Citizen TV Kenya - Facebook Most of these 19 states' policies only cover general elections, though. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? Last modified on October 1, 2020. Public holidays in Belgium in 2022 and 2023 | Expatica [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. 2. 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. But this arrangement began to raise concerns as travel and communication improved in the 19th century: Results from states that voted earlier could sway the outcome in states that voted later. Election Practices in Other Countries That America Could Learn From For federal offices (president, vice president, and United States Congress) and most gubernatorial offices (all except for . 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. "[Early and at-home voting] helps prevent bottlenecks for election administrators because it 'flattens the curve' for when ballots are cast by large numbers of voters," Perez said. 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. President Obama likes the idea of changing the way or the day Americans vote. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. Sunday: the second Sunday of March for Congress, and the second Sunday of May for President and Vice President. 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. Voter turnout in the United States is usually considered low, especially in years without a presidential election. the Tuesday that occurs within November 2 to November 8. 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. Is Election Day a national holiday? These people think it should be Explain your answers. It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil . [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. In the 2016 presidential election, 14% of registered voters cited being too busy or having a conflicting schedule as the main reason they didnt cast their ballots, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. List of national independence days - Wikipedia Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. 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. America is walking the knifes edge between maintaining and losing democracy. National Days around the world | Office Holidays - Zkon o podmienkach vkonu volebnh", "The Effectiveness of Early Voting A Case Study of the Republic of Korea", "Ley Orgnica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Rgimen Electoral General", "Elections in Venezuela and Pennsylvania: Lessons in Democracy? ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. Modern life operates around the clock. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 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). Election Day National Holiday - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." 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. Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off These include national, state, and local government representatives at all levels up to the president. Countries that hold the ballot before Sunday are not permitted to announce results until all other countries have finished voting. 1, which adds a new paid holiday for federal employees every other year. Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "If I had my way, and I think it is really important, every . Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off November 7, 2023. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. Election Day (United States) - Wikipedia Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - The Atlantic Disclaimer: Dates and Events correct at time of printing but may change without our knowledge. Election Day is a state holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York. By Monday morning, nearly 60 million had already voted early across the country, closing in on half of 2016's total voter turnout. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Operated 24:7 through the week. 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. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. While making Election Day a national holiday or moving it to the weekend would by no means be a cure-all, it could be used in conjunction with other strategies like automatic voter registration (nearly 87% of registered voters participated in the 2016 election), restoring voting rights for formerly incarcerated people and removing other barriers such as voter ID requirements and voter roll purges that often disenfranchise people of color. 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. [26] Caravanas are joyful, noisy parades of cars festooned with flags and other decorations that stream through Puerto Ricos streets ahead of an election and are credited with the islands over 80% voter turnout.
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