Bernie Sander's proposal

[Playinghardball]

[Cleita]

1. Everything Bernie says makes too much sense.

I believe this is why he is ignored so much by his Senate peers.

[djean111]

2. It is a good idea.

BUT my governator, Voldemort Scott, would probably use that as an excuse to shut down early voting altogether.

[BlueMan Votes]

3. LOTS of people have to work on national holidays.

so unless he's going to call for a law that ALL businesses have to close for the day, it won't do shit as far as getting people to vote.

[byeya]

5. Most government agencies, banks, the Post office, and state and local government workers

have many national holidays off.
It will be positive.

[BlueMan Votes]

6. which is a small percentage of the electorate.

we don't need any more national holidays.

[byeya]

10. I'm with Sen. Sanders on this one. And, the numbers of people having a national holiday off

runs into the millions, which is not insignificant.

[byeya]

4. I started a thread on this subject yesterday suggesting we move Columbus Day to Election Day to

avoid RW ire against "yet another national holiday."

I think it's a good idea. Many countries vote on Sunday and have higher turnout than we do.

[valerief]

7. Absolutely! Bernie, I hope you live to be 150 and are senator until you're 140. nt

[Lionessa]

8. Except that doesn't help the working poor very much at all.

Nor those that have to lose wages when taking a day off.

Most average low middle and below workers cannot afford a day off, or won't be offered one because they work where there will suddenly be an intense need for Election Days sales etc.

[Cleita]

9. They could solve the whole problem with a mail in vote.

My precinct is 100% mail in. This gives us plenty of time to fill out the ballot and get it back to the County Clerk.

[BlueMan Votes]

17. which would make the national holiday thing totally unnecessary.

in fact- it would be worse if it was a national holiday- no mail.

[Gregorian]

11. With automatic federal registration.

[NashvilleLefty]

12. Playing Devil's Advocate here

as much as I LOVE Bernie, I'm afraid that if you simply give people another holiday they'll use it for everything BUT voting. I think a better answer is to allow more early voting, especially on weekends when people are already off.

Voting is important, and we need to emphasize that. Making Election Day a National Holiday does that temporarily. But how many holidays do we observe today for the purpose that was originally intended?

Personally and honestly, I think extending early voting is a better answer.

[ReRe]

13. Key word being...

... EVERYONE !

[former-republican]

14. So state workers , banks , federal workers could have another day off with pay

yea , lets skip that.......

[kenny blankenship]

15. Damn Straight!

It still may not change much, but it's fucking obscene that elections are held on a work day/non-holiday. Disenfranchisement Tactic Number One - from way back but still suppressing the vote quite effectively from that day to this.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. It has to go further than that.

We need an amendment that establishes uniform national election and voting processes that remove money as a factor, guarantees every citizen an unambiguous right to vote and to have their vote counted through transparent uniform processes, and that guarantees that every national elective office is chosen by direct election with a majority of the votes cast. One person one vote, and each vote equal to every other vote.