Sanders introduces bill to make Federal election day a national holiday

[think]

It's pretty obvious that congress is going to completely ignore this bill & it is highly unlikely to pass. The MSM has not even mentioned Sanders' bill which in my eyes is shameful in it's own right.

Still it begs the question why isn't one of the most important days for American democracy not a holiday? Why aren't flag waving patriotic GOP congress members climbing all over themselves to promote the most basic rights of American democracy?

Here's the Bernie Sanders editorial from yesterday discussing voting rights and making Federal election day a national holiday:

The Fight for Voting Rights Is Our Fight Today

By Bernie Sanders - Posted: 08/05/2015 3:47 pm EDT

Thursday, August 6 marks the 50-year anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark piece of legislation was a milestone in the fight for civil rights and a great step forward in the advancement of our democracy. This important and popular law passed the House and Senate with the support of large majorities from both parties.

Unfortunately, some people would rather increase the power of the privileged few than defend voting rights. Right-wing groups like the Heritage Foundation and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have been promoting legislative proposals which make it harder for minorities to register and vote. Sadly, those proposals have had some success at the state level.

Then there's the Supreme Court. The Court's conservative majority struck a blow against democracy in 2010 with its Citizens United decision. In 2013 it struck another blow, when it overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. That made it very difficult to step in and enforce voters' rights under the Act.

~Snip~

I have introduced legislation to make Election Day a national holiday, but that's just a start. We must make early voting an option for voters who work or study and need the flexibility to vote on evenings or weekends. We must make no-fault absentee ballots an option for all Americans.

Every American over 18 must be registered to vote automatically, so that students and working people can make their voices heard at the ballot box. We must put an end to discriminatory laws and the purging of minority-community names from voting rolls.

~Snip~

Full editorial:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernie-sanders/the-fight-for-voting-righ_b_7942850.html?utm_hp_ref=yahoo&ir=Yahoo

Of course congress is completely ignoring this bill and it has only a 1% chance of passing according to GovTrack.us. Making Federal election day a national holiday and increasing voter participation doesn't appear high on the list of things congress supports.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1969

[Bobbie Jo]

1. This is needed.

This should have been done years ago.

[lewebley3]

42. It will go nowhere, the GOP will not bring this up for a vote

[Bobbie Jo]

45. You're right, they want no part of this

When people turn out to vote, Democrats win elections.

They've known this for decades.

[lewebley3]

47. Voting is helpful, introducing a Bill that gos nowhere is dumb

[Bobbie Jo]

49. Sure

It's little more than a grandstanding effort at this point.

As I mentioned, the push to get this done should have happened years ago.

[rhett o rick]

77. I take it you don't like Sen Sanders. Well I bet you thought those that dared to

stand up to George Bush, the dumb son, when he asked permission to kill innocent Iraqi women and children, were dumb.

Introducing this bill will reveal who likes this idea and who doesn't. How does Clinton stand on this issue? LOL, or how does she stand on anything? On the TPP I think she wants to see what the something, something says, on fracking she thinks it will help the oil companies make bigger profits (the hell with the people's water supplies), on the XL Pipeline, oooh a low profile best there, on indefinite detention? Crickets, on drone killing, on restoring Glass-Steagall, not so much, on regulating banksters, she thinks those being critical of bank bailouts are foolish.

[madokie]

84. I couldn't have said it better

[merrily]

87. She MAY indicate MOST of her stands after you elect her President.

No clue why you think you and other Democratic voters have any right to know them BEFORE then, let alone before you vote in the Democratic primary.

That's some massive sense of entitlement you have, there, bro.


(Relax, alerter: the intent of this post is NOT to insult or call out rhett, which rhett and most sane people would know without this parenthetical.)

Making election day a holiday is something Sanders has long backed.

Introducing a good bill that goes nowhere can serve many purposes. For one thing, it can hit the media and bring an issue to the attention of the public. It may also force people to vote on it, one way or the other, even if only in Committee. And that, too can be useful.

I've often wished that someone would introduce a good bill and try to force some kind of vote on it so someone could be held accountable.

[George II]

99. Because the idea isn't a good one means that he/she doesn't like Sanders? Damn, you sure do...

...jump to false conclusions easily.

On the other hand, this has been tried in the past and not gotten anywhere. Not because members of Congress want to suppress the vote, but because the logical thought was that if Election Day was a holiday, people would do something for the day and blow off voting altogether.

What does all that other blah blah blah about the typical Bernie talking points have to do with making Election Day a holiday?

Come to think of it, your entire post is WAY off-topic.

[rhett o rick]

102. A problem I see from the Conservative Wing is that if they don't like an idea,

it becomes "dumb". Very hard to actually discuss issues with conservatives.

[George II]

105. Ah, now you go one step further. Not only do you accuse someone...

....of not liking someone else (Sanders) because he/she doesn't agree with an idea that has been voted down more than once in the past, but now since you don't agree he/she is a conservative?

Got a sensible, thought out opinion of the bill Sanders introduced, and why you think it might pass THIS time????

[rhett o rick]

103. Are you saying my conclusion was wrong? The rule of thumb is that if someone

speaks badly about Sen Sanders, they don't like him.

[George II]

104. But he/she didn't speak badly about him, so your conclusion IS wrong. WRONG. WRONG!

[rhett o rick]

106. Why are you speaking for him/her? nm

[George II]

108. I speak for myself, but when I see someone being irrationally attacked it irks me.

Now, what do YOU think about that proposed legislation? Think it'll pass this time (BTW, as I've said elsewhere, this is the second time Sanders has proposed this....never came up for a vote)

[lewebley3]

109. I like Sanders, I don't want him to be President, he is not Pres material

[rhett o rick]

111. Right. And I suppose you think that a person that literally turned her back on her Party

and joined the Republicons to help sell the war in Iraq is Presidential material. Is it so easy to block out the hundreds of thousands of deaths of innocent Iraqi people, the deaths of American troops, and the untold financial damage caused by that "mistake"?

[lewebley3]

112. Hillary never turned her back on her party: Hillary is a loyal Dem always has been!

[rhett o rick]

113. The real Democrats tried to stop the horrible bloodshed. She sided with Bush, not only

with support but she also tried to sell the war on the floor of the Senate. And if that was not enough she doubled down with her support of the Patriot Act. I hope you agree that act was designed to take our Constitutional rights for the weak promise of security. Now some will try to convince us that those were actions of a true DEmocrat. If so, what do we call those Democrats that opposed the war and the Patriot Act? Far Left radicals. Radicals that knew there would be massive bloodshed. That Americans would come home from the war broken, wounded or in a coffin. Those that were brave enough to stand up and say the war was wrong are the true Democrats.

[lewebley3]

115. No, most Dem's supported the war, particularly from New York:

Al Franken was for the war, etc.

[rhett o rick]

116. But it was the wrong decision in spite of what "most Democrats" thought. She should have told NY

that it was a mistake, that it wasn't Iraq that brought down the WTC, but she didn't. She told them it was the right thing to do. She told them that George Bush was right. The evidence at the time did not convince anyone but Republcons and Neocons.
Seriously, how can you overlook a mistake that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people? Pretend it didn't happen and that no one is responsible?

[lewebley3]

118. Bush chose, war not Hillary: He said he : alone made the choice!

[rhett o rick]

122. Bush lies, but either way it has nothing to do with H. Clinton's choice to believe the Republicon

lies. She knew better and needs to accept her responsibility. Attempts to rationalize away the hundreds of thousands of dead innocent Iraqi's is a shame. Pretend it never happened. This country also may never recover from the damage done by that decision, by that "mistake".

Why support someone that either was fooled by Bush or agreed with Bush when you have a choice of someone that showed integrity and said no to Bush?

[lewebley3]

124. When the Clintons in power, they made a different choice than Bush !

Hillary voted on the use of force with many Dem's, not
the questions of war. Congress has not voting on going
to war since FDR.

[rhett o rick]

125. She voted to give Bush the power to make the decision. She made a speech on the Senate

floor explaining how it was necessary to give Bush this power to go to war. When Bush invaded Iraq, did she speak out with objections? Did she tell the world that Bush over stepped his authority? You are correct that other people that carry the label Democrat also bowed down to Bush. But that's no excuse. She made the choice and hundreds of thousands died. Do you think that those lives don't matter? That no one is responsible for killing them with personnel mines, cluster bombs and phosporous shells that burn all the flesh off? Don't let me forget the depleted uranium shells. The gift that keeps on giving. Giving cancer to generations to come. We tortured innocent people. War crimes were committed and some want to brush it under the rug.

Why elect someone with that baggage when you don't have to??

[lewebley3]

127. No the American people made Bush President, they gave Bush to the power

The Clinton's made a different choice on Iraq:

Bernie is weak and has no political skills, why elect
a person who is just not ready to be President.

[George II]

107. He tried this back in 2014, too. It wasn't enacted but...

....it was a good indication of his effectiveness as an Independent in Congress, and probably a good indication of what his effectiveness will be as President.

BTW, John Conyers also introduced a similar bill in 2005 with 110 sponsors. It never came up for a vote.

As I said earlier, this is just a publicity stunt by Sanders.

[rhett o rick]

110. At least we know where he stands

He stands with the 99% and not the billionaires.

[George II]

120. Like I said, this has been tried before...

...and failed for a number of reasons.

He stands with the past. It has nothing to do with "billionaires" or "the 99%".

[rhett o rick]

123. Some times it takes a number of tries before you achieve success. "He stands with the past"

What does that even mean? Do you mean the past where there was a vibrant middle class? Where the wealthy paid their share to keep our infrastructure safe? But it's not at all true, he stands for the future, a future where the 99% takes back their country from Goldman-Sachs and the billionaires.

Why do you think the billionaires and Goldman-Sachs like H. Clinton? Because they think she will work to solve poverty, solve the problem of the USofA having the highest rate of infant mortality, get the NSA/CIA to stop spying on us? Not likely. They like her because she is one of them, she is a member of the 1% and they know she can be trusted to help them increase their profits.

On the other hand, why do you think that the 99% is turning out and filling stadiums to hear Sen Sanders? Because they believe he will represent them and not the billionaires that have a strangle hold on Wash DC.

There are two sides to this class war and Sen Sanders is clearly on the side of the 99%. Is your candidate?

[lewebley3]

119. No, Bill going no where, are an indication of ineffectiveness:

[George II]

121. Its window dressing and a publicity stunt.

[Cosmocat]

70. Good and bad

SOMETHING has to be done, and this is viable consideration.

But, it is America, 2015 ...

A national holiday is going to result mostly in people taking a vacation day on Monday to get a four day run off somewhere ...

That said, as most noted, you have the republican party, and with them about 45% of the country nodding bobble heads on whatever insanely stupid ass shit they feed them, making every possible attempt to LIMIT voting in this country, so this is a non-starter.

[bravenak]

76. I agree.

I never understood why we don't vote on veterans day or something like that. A voting holiday woukd be perfect during that time of year.

[still_one]

2. It is a great idea idea, but as you say nothing will happen. The republicans do not want people to

vote. However, even in todays system there is no excuse for people not voting. Most states have absentee ballots as an option, and the poll hours are from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, so there should be no excuse for not voting.

Of course, knocking people illegally off the voting rosters, and intentionally putting few voting machines in large counties is voter suppression, and that is a different issues

[erronis]

17. Nor does the DLC want "independent"-minded democrats to vote.

Lockstep everyone. Tramp, tramp, tramp...

[HereSince1628]

67. The DLC is in witness protection... it's sorta Blackwater of Am. politics.

The DNC found DLCers a new identity and new future.

How better to hide then as liberal progressives the f*****g re**rds of their boy-genius Rahm Emmanuel?

[daleanime]

3. Can't rec this enought.....

[SonderWoman]

4. Love this idea. Long overdue.

[lewebley3]

43. Meaningless, It won't even be consider by the GOP for a vote

[Alittleliberal]

126. So are most things the Democratic party stands for

Are you honestly arguing against Democratic legislators doing their job and proposing Democratic legislation? What do you think happens in congress when the left just gives up because the GOP fights Democratic ideas?

[WDIM]

5. Election day should be a celebration. With community events

Parades and all the pom and circumstance that our freedom deserves.

[cilla4progress]

6. People like to complain about low voting rates

particularly among Democrats. I've always maintained that lower income, struggling, middle class, etc. folks - the Democratic party base - are often not in a position to tell their employer (or employerS, if holding down several jobs), that they will be taking off time to go vote.

Also, as we've witnessed, election boards often don't place enough voting machines in lower income areas, which only adds to the inconvenience and commitment required.

This is an idea that should have been implemented years ago. Another stellar move by Bernie. Of course the Republicans are against it.

[global1]

25. Aren't Employers Required To Give Their Employees Time To Go Vote?.....

I seem to remember something like this.

[silverweb]

31. Yes.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]With restrictions, of course.

Here's a state-by-state rundown:

Taking Time Off to Vote

On edit: I reviewed the list and couldn't find a state that actually says "no," but time allowed is tight for many and a large number allow it only without pay for the time taken. We certainly do need to make the whole day a national holiday!

[Humanist_Activist]

114. On paper yes, but if they cut your hours, or give you a write up for...

"not being a team player" in the weeks following, who are you to challenge the actual reason for the change?

[appalachiablue]

56. K & R. Correct about Dems. circumstances. Bravo Bernie for putting this out there!

[kenfrequed]

7. We could call it "Democracy day"

Imagine celebrating a day where we actively participate in an activity rather than remembering some past event. A day where we do something that has an effect on who we are and what we are about!

[SwankyXomb]

63. There is no way

you'll get Republicans to vote for anything that even sounds close to Democrat.

[kenfrequed]

64. Then call it"Freedom Day"

....and try not to think too much about a certain episode of Futurama!

"Freedom, Freedom, Freedom Oy!"

[Bluenorthwest]

90. You keep repeating that, but in reality Oregon has vote by mail which takes in all of Bernie's ideas

save for the holiday, which we'd like because by election day we've already voted so we could do whatever while the rest of you vote.
Our election system, paper ballots you get two weeks ahead of election, returnable by mail or delivery to official drop boxes, is popular with both Republicans and Democrats and rather amazingly both Parties saw voter increases when the process was put in place.
There are reasons for this. Rural voters really like the by mail method, in Oregon our rural areas lean Republican.

Other States, even the whole country, could easily build support for such rules among the voters of both or all Parties.

[kacekwl]

8. One step further,

Voting should be done friday thru Monday a full 4 days.

[lovemydog]

11. Every week!

[think]

24. Yes, it would be nice to make voting accessible by allowing voters a greater window to participate

Be it absentee voting, a longer period of time to vote like you mention, online voting, or other options we should encourage Americans to participate in the voting process.

[1norcal]

30. Yes And

Several more days for verifying and counting the votes!

[lovemydog]

9. I'm highly in favor of this bill.

[senz]

10. High turnout is ALWAYS good for Democrats.

So of course the Republicans will shoot it down. Bernie truly is the democracy candidate.

[SHRED]

12. That's fine however...

Many places of employment don't honor paid holidays anyway.

[bigwillq]

18. I'm not guaranteed off on any of the current federal holidays

My place of employment is open 24/7, 365. I sometimes work on federal holidays (with overtime pay).
I work second shift and vote before I go to work.

[olddots]

13. its about time

the materialistic facists in this country want nobody to even know when or where to vote .

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. YES!

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. That's a great idea ...

except for the lowest tier of workers in the economy who when they don't work, they don't get paid ... National Holiday, or not.

[think]

22. This is true.

Making Federal election day a national holiday will not help the lowest paid workers & contract workers who don't get paid for holidays. It will do nothing to help address the issue of low pay and lack of benefits for many workers.

All the more reason to support candidates that support a living wage, greater benefits for workers including paid holiday leave & family leave, and a single payer healthcare system to help Americans improve their lives and not just survive.

[MBplayer]

16. Thank you, Bernie!

This is something ALL OF US here at DU can unite and rally around!

[SheilaT]

19. As bigwillq said.

I'm constantly amazed at to what extent regular 8-5 office workers don't understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to have that kind of schedule. It's also my observation that shift workers have almost no flexibility in their job in terms of taking off a bit of extra time for anything.

Perhaps we should have a 24 hour voting day, whenever it might be. There will still be a handful of people, such as firefighters, who might actually be working that entire shift and unable to vote on Election Day. Which is why we need nationwide early voting. I'm fortunate enough to live in a state that makes it easy to early vote, and I haven't voted on Election Day itself in years.

[L. Coyote]

20. YES to "Every American over 18 must be registered to vote automatically"

Tell it like it is, election theft is pro-active racism:

"We must put an end to discriminatory laws and the purging of minority-community names from voting rolls. "

[fbc]

21. Bernie's the best!

[moobu2]

23. Has he ever done this before

or is it just because of the primary? I looked at his legislative record and it's pretty weak all around.

[AllFieldsRequired]

27. Sanders? Weak?

In what way? Could you be specific?

Are you saying he has not introduced much or that what he does never goes anywhere?

If the latter, do you want to talk about why?

[think]

28. Yes he introduced a similar bill in November of 2014

Bernie Sanders Wants to Make Election Day a National Holiday. Here's Why That Won't Happen.

By BY REBECCA NELSON

November 7, 2014 Tuesday's election is on track to mark one of the lowest voter turnouts ever in a national election, with early numbers showing only 36.6 percent of eligible Americans got to the polls. There's an easy fix for that, says Sen. Bernie Sanders: Make Election Day a national holiday.

The independent senator from Vermont plans to introduce legislation next week calling for a new federal holiday, aptly named "Democracy Day," his office announced Friday. But if history tells us anything, it's that, despite broad support from both sides of the aisle, the bill is almost sure to be dead on arrival.

~Snip~
Other politicians have shown less concern about Election Day reform. Former Massachusetts Gov. and presidential contender Mitt Romney said in 2012 that he supports leaving such reform to the states, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich dodged a question about voting on weekends in 2011, saying that the more pressing problem is an onslaught of negative campaigns.

While the Sanders bill will likely draw support across party lines, chances are it will go the way similar efforts have.

"People have been supportive of this legislatively," Soboroff said. "But it dies in committee because there just isn't the critical mass to get this thing out and get voted on by the full Congress. And I truly don't have an explanation for it other than this is members of Congress wanting to protect themselves over helping the American people."..

Full article:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/bernie-sanders-wants-to-make-election-day-a-national-holiday-here-s-why-that-won-t-happen-20141107

As the article states other Democrats have produced similar legislation and it always ends up dying in committee as there is not enough support to make a fight for it.

[blue neen]

26. It's a good idea.

The early voting he mentions is an even better idea.

[lark]

29. Hell no!

The Repugs strategy is to prevent minorities, women and college people from voting. They will do anything to make sure we don't vote and everything to ensure we can't.

Unfortunately, although this is a good bill, it will go nowhere in McTurtle's Senate.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

32. You would think....

that corporations would get behind this. Another day for sales!

"Election Day Special!, Pick the winner and get 20% off!

Or

"Show us your "I Voted" sticker and get a BOGO!

This day is crying to be a national holiday! We need more sales.

[think]

33. Indeed. It could be the kickoff for the holiday shopping season. /nt

[George II]

34. This has been proposed a number of times in one form or another, never got anywhere.

[think]

36. Yes that's true. Hopefully Hillary, O'Malley, Chaffee, & Webb will throw their weight behind this

and change that negative momentum.

Increasing voting rights should be a popular issue with the public and especially Democratic voters.

I'd be willing to bet if the national polling agencies asked voters about making federal elcetion day a national holiday voters would overwhelmingly approve.

[George II]

96. None of them are in congress, they really can't do very much about it.

[jeepers]

117. If congress wants to prove itself irrelevant

perhaps we need to get used to the idea of referendum and recall elections on federal and state levels to serve as a way to both monitor congress and to get around its elitist behavior.


A national election day holiday may never pass congress but we could bring it up for popular vote in twenty six states through referendum

[NYC Liberal]

35. What would a "national holiday" do, exactly?

We don't have any national holidays now -- primarily because Congress can only declare holidays for the federal government. It can't force businesses to close or shut down.

I'm all for the other proposals mentioned in the article -- including restoring the VRA and early voting.

[frylock]

37. Long overdue

[AzDar]

38. Bernie!!

[turbinetree]

39. I think in my humble opinion.................

the entire second weekend of November, and three weeks of early voting
And good on my candidate to bring this up:

"I have introduced legislation to make Election Day a national holiday, but that's just a start. We must make early voting an option for voters who work or study and need the flexibility to vote on evenings or weekends. We must make no-fault absentee ballots an option for all Americans.

Every American over 18 must be registered to vote automatically, so that students and working people can make their voices heard at the ballot box. We must put an end to discriminatory laws and the purging of minority-community names from voting rolls. "

And what's really nice is that Oregon is leading this right now----------------yeah


Honk--------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[PADemD]

40. Early Voting

I would like to see early voting starting October 1, with voting ending the first Monday in November (a national holiday) and vote counting starting on the first Tuesday in November.

Automatic voter registration would be so wonderful. It could be done in the high schools, at driver licensing centers, citizenship naturalization, or when registering for the draft.

If Bernie wants this law to pass, all he needs to do is ask his volunteers and the people attending his rally to write or call their Representative and Senators. Public pressure in an election year just might make this possible.

[madamvlb]

44. Boom!!!

[retrowire]

48. Well of course, did you know

that the original elections when it all started were huge parties where everyone drank alcohol and danced?

let's go back to that!

[Art_from_Ark]

74. Log cabin hard cider for everyone!

[left-of-center2012]

50. GOP will say ...

GOP will say it's an attempt to impose Sharia law.

[PoliticAverse]

51. "Of course congress is completely ignoring this bill" - wasn't "completely ignored",

it went to a committee (where most bills die).

[SunSeeker]

52. Why give the GOP an excuse to vote this down for cost reasons?

They will just complain that all this will do is give government employees another paid holiday that the rest of workers have to pay for with their taxes yet not get to take themselves. Most workers don't get all federal holidays off.

We should be pushing to move election day from Tuesday to the weekend, Saturday and/or Sunday, like they have it in other countries. Short of that, we should be pushing to expand early voting and/or mail in ballots.

[greymattermom]

53. Lottery ticket

Every voter should get a free lottery ticket. Let's make votes really for sale. It could be a lot cheaper than flooding tv with stupid repetitive commercials.

[blackspade]

54. It's ignored by the M$M because it's not in the interests of the 1%....

to promote democracy.
A national holiday would mean too many 'undesirables' will vote; A prime threat to the oligarchy.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

55. I disagree, on the grounds that

voting shouldn't be limited to one day.

Not everyone is able to set aside that particular day, such as people working in the field on a two week on, two week off cycle, or others working unusual shifts.

Because of that, there should be a period of time during which you can cast your ballot. You should be able to do this online or via some method that leaves a paper trail. I prefer leaving a paper trail, but it looks as if this "Internet" thing is catching on.

[Hiraeth]

57. YES !!!

[mcar]

58. I wish it could pass

It is very needed.

[DFW]

59. Every D in their right mind should support this and every R in their right mind should oppose it

Any bill that would increase voter participation to the degree that this bill does, would immense improve Democrats' prospects of getting elected, seeing as how EVERY bill restricting voter rights has been tailor-made to PREVENT Democrats and/or their constituencies from voting.

Such a bill, if enacted into law, would practically be a free pass for the Democratic nominee in 2016 to settle into the Oval Office the minute the polls close on Election Day. Democrats could start selecting their new Senate Majority leader the moment the convention in Philadelphia closes.

I.E., the Republicans will never allow this bill to get anywhere near being voted on.

[Motown_Johnny]

60. I think we should move President's Day to voting day

What better way to honor our past Presidents than to vote?


I've been saying this for years, but nobody ever agrees.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

75. I like that idea as much as I'm sure the Republicans

will hate it. They don't care much for patriotism if it doesn't involve xenophoba, liberal-bashing, or war-mongering.

[d_legendary1]

61. Not only is Sanders getting name recognition

He's using it to promote democratic ideas while he's at it! Awesome use of your time in the lime light sir!

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

62. Been saying this for years.

[Enthusiast]

65. Kicked and recommended!

The nation needs this.

[n8dogg83]

66. While it might be exepensive to implement, i would like to have an "election week"...

that would encompass the Saturday or Sunday of election week all the way to the following Sunday. That, including early voting, same day registration, etc. would allow pretty much everyone who wants to vote.

[PuppyBismark]

68. Just move it to the weekend, Saturday & Sunday

Then there is little excuse to not vote and little room for the GOP to have a serious objection.

Lots of other countries do it then.

[Agschmid]

92. A lot of us work the weekends.

[avaistheone1]

69. Great idea! go Bernie!!!!

[Attorney in Texas]

71. Great piece of legislation!

[forest444]

72. It certainly should be -just as so many other countries do.

Many, in fact, have elections on Sundays to assure highest turnout.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_day

[TNNurse]

73. That is a great idea

However, there must always be other voting days. The work does not stop because it is a holiday. Nurses, firemen, police, paramedics and lots of other people work holidays.

[PatrickforO]

78. There's Bernie again, walking the walk.

We're sure gonna caucus for him and I'm sending him money.

[beam me up scottie]

79. Not Good Enough Bernie!!1!

He's not walking the walk because:

1) he won't pay for everyone to take the day off (he's a thousandaire!)

2) he's only saying this because he's running for the nomination (even though he's said it before)

3) he really doesn't care about minority voting rights (he's pandering to racists at Liberty U)

4) all of the above plus he's a gun nut


Or something.

[underthematrix]

80. Oregon has already done some of this. I like making election day a national holiday. But

I think states can make it a state holiday. We know red states will not do it but blue and purple states probably will. that's a first step. In addition President Obama has proclaimed Spetember 22, 2015 National Voter Registration Day. My family is already registered but if anyone knows someone who is not they should try to get registered on this day.

[raouldukelives]

81. Conservatives and corporations have spent years

And millions to get us exactly where they want us.

The last thing they want to do is strengthen the voice of the people and lay to waste all that hard work.

[BlueMTexpat]

82. Would love to see this happen. eom

[madokie]

83. Issue voters is why we're in this fix

God, guns, gays and abortion issue's are what brings the republiCON base or in droves and when there is a low turn out the pukes win, every time. We Democratic Party members need to make damn sure we vote no matter the hardship it might put on us.

[merrily]

85. He has been urging this for a long time.

[Mrdie]

86. You know what other country had election day simultaneously function as a national holiday?

The Soviet Union.

If this ever becomes a big deal you can bet some idiot will bring that up.

[beam me up scottie]

88. LOL!

Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't.

[merrily]

89. um....

[Frank Cannon]

91. Make Veteran's Day into Election Day.

That disrupts the current process the least. And since we are always told that our soldiers died to protect our democracy, it's also a fitting tribute to them.

Make Memorial Day the new Veteran's Day. It's pretty much morphed into that over the years, anyway. It used to be a day to remember all of your deceased loved ones. Now it's become one of THREE different holidays devoted to military worship. (I'm also counting 4th of July.)

[Agschmid]

93. This doesn't need to happen.

What needs to happen is that early voting should be expanded, new voting methods should be put into place.

Even if it is a national holiday a lot of us still work on those days...

[bucolic_frolic]

94. Good idea

Republicans will have a new cause for voter suppression

Intoxication on a holiday

And no means to test on the spot

Just "You're drunk!"

[DawgHouse]

95. People still won't go vote, they'll be too shopping at the Voting Day Sales.

I do think that voting should be made more convenient and longer hours, weekend, etc.

[George II]

97. The drawback on making Election Day a holiday, and the rationale behind it not getting anywhere...

...in the past, is that many people would really consider it just a holiday and go off and do something and blow off voting.

A more constructive and perhaps productive bill would be to set uniform hours nationwide, from 6AM to 8PM instead of what we have now - some states open later and close earlier. This would give working voters 2 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening to vote.

[MBS]

98. The problem with this idea is

that, my fellow citizens being who they are, they will merely take off Monday as well, and treat themselves to a 3- or 4-day holiday.

I think a better move would be to introduce a law that REQUIRES all employers, no matter how large or small the business, to give their employees a 1/2-day off to vote; this leave could be used on voting day itself, or, where there is early voting, on an early-voting day. I would even be OK if employees were required to provide proof of voting to their employers, after the fact.(My guess is that a requirement to provide proof of voting is likely problematic, legally speaking, I offer this as just my personal opinion, one that likely would not hold up in court).

[MineralMan]

100. This will not pass now.

However, if Democrats can elect a strong majority in the Senate and any majority in the House, a bill like this can pass. For now, this indicates where Bernie wants to go.

[DetlefK]

101. Or do it like Germany...

All election-days are on Sundays. National, state, local... always a Sunday.



(plus things like hand-counted paper-ballots and a one-use voter-ID sent to you by mail)

[One_Life_To_Give]

128. Which other Holiday will it cost me?

Like many other private sector employee's. I get xx paid holidays a year. My employer doesn't care which holidays those are. Having another holiday doesn't give me an extra day off. It just rearranges which days I am expected to be in the office.

And in the larger context are we going to keep retail stores open or closed? With all those people off it could become a Pre-Black Friday. So all the office workers get the day off while so many others are forced to work. That in itself could swing the demographics of the voters. Favoring higher income workers who are more likely to have the day off.