Should Election day be a national holiday?

[el_bryanto]

I think it should, but want to see what others think.

Bryant

33 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Definitely
	30 (91%)
	Maybe
	2 (6%)
	Maybe not
	0 (0%)
	Definitely not
	0 (0%)
	I like to vote!
	1 (3%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[cherokeeprogressive]

1. Maybe it should, but not paid.

Unless you think employers should be punished for some reason.

[el_bryanto]

3. Does it punish employers to celebrate Veterans day next week?

Americans get fewer days off than almost any other nation, already. I don't know how adding one more is really going to hurt.

Bryant

[Travis_0004]

6. most employees dont get Vetrans Day off

[el_bryanto]

8. I guess that's true -

Further evidence that when it comes to paid days off, the United States is incredibly stingy.

Bryant

[True Blue Door]

16. Asking them to support their country is a "punishment"?

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. Nnnope.

Close ALL businesses? Or just those considered non-essential?

What about gas, groceries, and medication?

Do some companies get to be open and make a profit that day?

[True Blue Door]

23. Businesses aren't forced to close on holidays - just pay workers overtime.

[Fred Sanders]

36. Elections are more important than delayed business profits. Period.

[True Blue Door]

40. Yup.

[KingCharlemagne]

33. How does a paid holiday 'punish' employers?

[Fred Sanders]

37. Strange thinking going on at this liberal site .......

[Journeyman]

2. Wouldn't stores just use it to stage new sales promotions? . . .

"Come on down this Tuesday for the 'Red & Blue White Sale,' where you can make your choice known for all your linen needs!"

[Agschmid]

10. Yup.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Some countries hold elections on Sundays

to make it easier for people to vote - not so much interference with work schedules. But there doesn't seem to be much interest in this country in making it easier for people to vote.

[True Blue Door]

17. Election Day is set in the Constitution. It has to be on a Tuesday.

But within that fact, there's no reason that states can't pass referendums making it a holiday.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. That's true. And constitutional amendments are hard to get.

But still, it would be nice if voting day could be on a weekend, or make it a federal holiday.

[jakeXT]

20. What surprised me was how many politicians didn't know why it was Tuesday

[meow2u3]

5. Election Day should be Election WEEKEND

It not only should be a national holiday, but Election Weekend ought to take place on Saturday and Sunday, with the polls closing Sunday evening, anywhere from 7-9PM, depending on the state.

It ought to be a Federal crime--a felony, to boot--for an employer to schedule employees so they can't take the time off to vote.

[randome]

9. No, election week so no one has any excuses. Wouldn't need a holiday for that.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[demosincebirth]

7. Another paid holiday?...hell no! say Big Businsess.

[JEB]

11. And voting mandatory for every living citizen.

[el_bryanto]

12. Just the living ones?

Actually - that might be a step to far - there are valid philosophical reasons why someone might decide not to vote - I would disagree with them, but not to the point that I would be willing to force them.

Bryant

[JEB]

15. Option of casting a blank ballot.

I know quite a few dead people who I wish were still voting. Eliminate the felony disqualification. How many can there be?

[gladium et scutum]

14. And

heavy fines and long prison terms for those that don't vote?

[True Blue Door]

18. Just fines. If the GOP-favoring rich want to get out of voting, who are we to stop them?

[JEB]

24. Australia has had it for 80 years.

But they still got a wing nut.

[Fred Sanders]

38. Held them off for 80 years? Not bad.

[JEB]

41. The more people that vote the better liberal candidates do.

[trueblue2007]

13. yes, paid holiday day

[Atman]

19. Probably only if you can approve that you used the day to vote.

Otherwise, lazy-ass Americans will take the day to go to the beach (maybe not in November) or otherwise piss away the day. But if they can prove they voted, that would be a good thing.

[True Blue Door]

21. Obviously it should be a paid holiday.

And if we can't yet make it happen federally, than it should happen state by state.

[onecent]

26. I hope I live long enough to see voting by our social number, or something

safe and reliable...ONLINE. We do everything else on line.

[Nye Bevan]

27. Let's have everyone vote by mail instead (nt)

[Kalidurga]

28. Yes it should be I like the idea of paid

I am not going to complain if it isn't though. But, seriously if business can buy politicians the least they can do is pay people to take the day off and vote.

[ReasonableToo]

29. If we are not going to turn Columbus Day into a holiday into...

If we are not going to turn Columbus Day into a holiday to recognize and show respect for Native Americans then cancel it altogether and make voting day a national holiday!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

43. I was going to say I'd trade Columbus Day for Election Day,

but like your idea of recognizing Native Americans. But that will never happen, so I guess Election Day it is!

[bigwillq]

30. I say no.

With early voting, and the sufficient number of hours, imo, that polls are open on Election Day, I don't feel a national holiday is necessary.

[pstokely]

31. would it really increase voter participation?

not everyone gets national holidays off anyway, just ask retail workers on Thanksgiving, not everyone honors MLK on MLK Day or Veterans on Veterans day, schools might be out but only HS seniors over 18 can vote

[SheilaT]

32. Holiday schmoliday.

People who work in offices quite conveniently forget the many business that are not staffed by robots: stores, restaurants, hospitals, airports. Those are 7 day a week businesses, and some are 24-7. All most holidays mean for those people are extra work. And yes, if election day were a holiday stores would hold humongous sales. And no, they won't be paying overtime because all of their staff is part time in the first place.

It might be nice to have election day on a Sunday, but extended early voting hours are a better way to go. I haven't voted on election day itself in a decade or more, and probably never will again.

[customerserviceguy]

34. Most of the world has their elections on a Sunday

We could try that here.

[LiberalElite]

35. It should be a paid holiday -

I've been working for a few decades and I used to get Election Day off. Then it was cut to half a day, then 2 hours and then not at all.

[tammywammy]

39. No.

A national holiday doesn't mean people get the day off, I mean look at how many people work over national holidays. In Texas we have two weeks of early voting and all states (except what is it Oregon that has all mail in? Then early voting isn't really needed) should do at least that. In Texas I'd even expand the hours to 7pm both weeks or later. Plus you can early vote at any location in your county, I don't have to hurry back to my neighborhood I can vote near work.

Encouraging early voting is much better than instituting a national holiday where a large number of people would still have to work.

[Warren Stupidity]

42. Absolutely.

[madokie]

44. I've been advocating for this ever since I got home from my war

I don't miss many chances to vote and if I do its because of shit out of my control that keeping me away

[Bluenorthwest]

45. I think the trend is toward extended voting periods, with vote by mail and early voting methods

turning election day itself into a finale rather than the full show. I voted two weeks ago. As of Friday, 30 + percent of the State had returned ballots, the projections is for about 70% turnout among registered voters.
So a holiday sounds nice, but it is not the best way to enable access to easy voting.