So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. This article was published more than10 years ago. Such low voter turnout rates in the United States have various reasons why many Americans decide not to vote, but one main reason is not giving them time to vote and cast their ballots. Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. Americans are working all the time. "Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Sanders' website reads. Exact date set by the. Canada's turnout is about the same as the United States', with an average of 68%, and though one canton in Switzerland has a compulsory voting law, for the country as a whole turnout is around 49%, one of the lowest rates in OECD countries. 2020, Virginia. Updates? 26 th January (Republic Day), 15 th August (Independence Day) and 2 nd October (Gandhi Jayanti). Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. It is set by statute as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November.". Elections Project, which is close to the complete voter . [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. To look through the stats for voter turnout for other countries, you can visit the website for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and explore the data. 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. More people would vote if they had more time to cast their ballots Furthermore, celebrating our democracy publicly would send the message that we value each others citizenship as much as we value honoring past presidents. [13], Donald Green, PhD, Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, found that nonpartisan community parties celebrating Election Day in 2005, 2006, and 2016 increased voter participation between 2.6 percentage points and about 4 percentage points. - Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor, - Gil Troy, American presidential historian, Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party traditionally it is believed to help the Democrats at the, Joaquin Corbalan / EyeEm via Getty Images, as travel and communication improved in the 19th century, being too busy or having a conflicting schedule, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, substantially increase the cost of running elections, move that would make it easier for Americans to vote, The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits. He thinks the increased options afforded by early and mail-in voting could be undermined by making Election Day a holiday, creating "a solution in search of a problem.". With just about six in 10 voters turning out to vote in the U.S., some civil rights advocates are arguing that it's about time to give Americans the day off to vote. To combat these efforts, lawmakers nationally have introduced HR1 (the John Lewis Act) and S1, which would enact a number of important provisions: improve ballot access, create nonpartisan redistricting commissions to reduce gerrymandering, provide automatic voter registration when people turn 18, allow at least 15 days of early voting,mandate that presidential candidates disclosure their federal tax returns, and require greater disclosure of so-called dark money campaign contributions. It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. Some countries, including Belgium and Turkey, see such high voter turnout mainly because of their compulsory voting laws. In Estonia, a national ID card (required for every citizen in the country) can be used to vote remotely. And even if it were a federal holiday, that wouldn't ensure that all voting-age Americans would have the day off. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Read more: The evolution of American voting rights in 242 years shows how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: 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). This is the day we cast ballots to select public officials from local to the national government. Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. by country by date Common reasons for a certain day are the date on which a state or country achieved its independence, or the date of the country's patron saint day. 5. Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. The correct answer is B. Advertisement Advertisement marberman marberman Estonia This tiny Baltic nation is making waves for introducing something that seems completely logical in the digital age -- online voting. Will the party listen to them on the issues? 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. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). US voter turnout trails most developed countries. 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. 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. Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. Indigenous Peoples Day is a local and state holiday in some parts of the country usually held on Columbus Day that celebrates the cultures of Native Americans. Start the discussion over on our Facebook page, and let us know about civic engagement in your town, state, or country! Modern life operates around the clock. One major reason: It comes down to tradition, Troy said. Four more states only provide time off for biennial, even-year elections: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan and New Hampshire. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. America is walking the knifes edge between maintaining and losing democracy. [36]. We are very proud that we are mentioned in the Bible. This map, inspired by a Reddit thread with a similar map, shows the national days of the world's countries. Image 2. 3. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. Sunday: first Sunday of February for the President, Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly; second Sunday of February for municipal elections. In previous elections, that percentage was even higher. And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' All rights reserved. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Traditionally elections are held over two days, starting on a Friday afternoon and ending the following Saturday afternoon. From 2021, the first Sunday of June. 3) Britain and Denmark have no national days. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way . According to Pew Research data, US voter turnout trails most developed countries. By Monday morning, nearly 60 million had already voted early across the country, closing in on half of 2016's total voter turnout. 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. 2. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Battleground Tracker: Tight race in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham appears before Georgia grand jury, House Jan. 6 committee is having conversations with Justice Department, Georgia grand jury investigating Trump wants testimony from Giuliani, Graham, Trump election interference grand jury to hear from Raffensperger, DHS IG says Wolf changed intel report on Russian interference in 2020. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. ", "An overall look at Vietnam's election law", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Election_day&oldid=1136894393. A surprising map of the worlds national holidays (only two countries have no national day), Belarus sentences Nobel Peace laureate Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in jail, This is Bidens chance to press Scholz on Germanys rearmament, Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting over Bakhmut. The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. Virginia joined these states in April this year. 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. In an interview published Thursday, President Obama endorsed the idea of holding U.S. federal elections on weekends or national holidays. Countries like Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico also showed high voter turnout rates by having holidays. 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. History of Election Day States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. "While this would not be a cure-all, it would indicate a national commitment to create a more vibrant democracy.". 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. 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. For federal offices (president, vice president, and United States Congress) and most gubernatorial offices (all except for . Sign up to receive a weekly email update on forthcoming public holidays around the world in your inbox every Sunday. As you can see, the world is mostly divided between countries that celebrate a national independence day and countries that celebrate a national unification or revolution day. [20][21][22] A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off for a national holiday. In 2018, the general election was held on Wednesday. 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. 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. It worked. 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. The U.S. lags scores of other countries in election participation, ranking 26th out of 32 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the Pew. Pew also found that certain issues motivate voters more than others: "health care, poverty and education are the top motivators for political engagement." Meanwhile, in Macedonia this past September, voters chose to stay away from the polls because of the proposed name change for the country. ", Obama: "Absolutely. Over the course of three days, Estonians could vote by placing their state-issued ID cards (which have an electronic chip . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Twenty-seven of the 36 member countries, hold their elections on the weekend. [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. 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,". 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 day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. For example, in Ecuador, only literate citizens between 18 and 65 are required to vote; those over 65 or who are not literateare not required. 0:58. ", Others, however, are skeptical that creating a national holiday would increase voter turnout. While young people are generally less likely to vote, they are more motivated by the issue of freedom of speech than older generations. Australia sees around 91%, and 94% in Singapore. 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. Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. Common reasons for a certain day are the date on which a state or country achieved its independence, or the date of the country's patron saint day. "Election Day as a national holiday would mean things like perhaps reduced schedules for public transportation, schools being closed, hourly workers perhaps being incentivized to work more with time and a half. Vote.org has called on Amazon, Disney, McDonald's and others to offer paid time off for employees to vote and or work the polls. Opponents say kids arent mature enough to vote. Russia's national holiday only goes back to 1992, when the Russian Federation was founded. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. Issues also arise when a persons polling place is far from their workplace or when there are long lines to vote during peak times like in the morning before work or in the evening after work. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. [31]. Third Monday of October every four years, or after Parliament is dissolved by the. Lessons in How to Hold Elections", "GE2015: First time Polling Day falls on a Friday, but not first time polls held on a weekday", "180/2014 Z.z. About 54 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the 2012 presidential contest between Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, according to the Pew Research Center. As of mid-May Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills that would reduce the hours polls are open; forbid people from eating or drinking while waiting in line to vote; close voter registration on Sundays, when Black churches traditionally have organized their members to register and vote; repeal no excuse absentee voting; and create a long list of other barriers to voting. And. Hailey said the country needs a "cultural shift" to prioritize voting. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. According to the Pew Research Center, of the thirty-six nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. is one of nine that votes on a week day, and one of seven that doesn't designate election day a national holiday. 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. Mr. CHRISTENSEN: One of the biggest countries that uses compulsory voting is Australia. 26K views, 1.2K likes, 65 loves, 454 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Citizen TV Kenya: #FridayNight In the US, Election Day is not a national holiday. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. 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. During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. Sunday. But they never go far and die in committee without a vote. In 1845, when Congress established a national election day, it had to be a Tuesday because farmers went to church on Sunday, went to market on Wednesday, and may have needed a day, Monday, to get to their polling place, Gil Troy an American presidential historian and McGill University professor told HuffPost. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. Consider this: Even if Election Day were moved to a weekend or turned into a national holiday, retail and service industry employees would still need to work. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who don't to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. 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. In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. Because the impact of a federal holiday is far-reaching, many states and workplaces would likely follow suit. 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. [ 18][ 19] Con 1 While the majority of US states have voter leave laws that guarantee certain employees a modicum of time off to vote, no federal law currently mandates that employees get time off to cast their ballots. "We already know how to make voting convenient to voters that's by offering them options, like making an election season rather than election day," he said. And the empire has been pretty consistently breaking apart over the last half century Scotland is maybe next so it's not like there is a national unification to celebrate. So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. Could that ever happen in the U.S.? Puerto Rico's voter turnout has gone as high as 80 . 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? List two to three ways. 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. Whether election day should be made a national holiday is debated. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the .