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. 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. So the question of how you label Ireland goes back to which holiday you consider its national day. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. First Sunday of October. Is Election Day a federal holiday? | The US Sun A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. 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). 2) Most other countries are shaped by relatively recent revolutions. 3) Britain and Denmark have no national days. 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. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. [6] Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. 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 expense of the other party, the GOP, said Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor. Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey agrees. 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. 3. 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. Will the party listen to them on the issues? [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. Countries that hold the ballot before Sunday are not permitted to announce results until all other countries have finished voting. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. And. Thats not to say no one has tried. For more information on how to vote, head over to our TurboVote module. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. 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. 1. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Presented by:Defense Language and National Security Education Office, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote, looked at a few different methods of voting. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. ", "National Electoral Code Article 53 and 148", Report of the 2014 National Lawyers Guild Bolivian Election Observation Delegation, Voting hours for elections in EU Member States, "The Parliamentary Electoral System in Denmark", Consultation Report on Review of Electoral Arrangements, "India Elects 2019: The World's Largest Election, Explained", "Six Nations match at the centre of row over election date - Independent.ie", "With full term possible, Netanyahu may outlast Ben-Gurion (and Obama)", Confessionalism and Electoral Reform in Lebanon, "Voters reminded not to reveal voting intention at Sunday's polling", "Malaysia's election on a Wednesday favors PM, opposition says", "Elections in Mexico and the US: Comparisons and contrasts", "Law on Election of Councillors and Members of Parliament", "Election Days General Elections 1853-2011", "The main features of the Norwegian electoral system", "Tribunal Electoral de Panam convoca a elecciones generales de 2024", "Peru Can Give U.S. He says it's more important to spread voting out over a period of days and methods. And there is no better way to secure democracy than to ensure that everyone has not only the right to vote, but also the meaningful opportunity to cast their ballots. Because the impact of a federal holiday is far-reaching, many states and workplaces would likely follow suit. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. 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. That too is a reminder as to how new many of the ideas from that century, such as full enfranchisement and national self-determination, really are. CBS News reporter covering climate change and energy. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? - HuffPost Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. 0:58. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. We also know that countries that have marked their election days as federal events see higher voting turnouts than the United States. Public holidays in Belgium in 2022 and 2023 | Expatica Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. [8], In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. 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. Start the discussion over on our Facebook page, and let us know about civic engagement in your town, state, or country! Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. 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. It's Time to Make Election Day a National Holiday (Once - HuffPost The Freedom to Vote Act would make Election Day a national holiday. 4. It worked. Sunday. 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). Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Making the presidential election a national holiday is another way to get people to the polls. Pew also found that certain issues motivate voters more than others: "health care, poverty and education are the top motivators for political engagement." Examine this opinion article from Evil HR Lady Suzanne Lucas on why election day should not be a national holiday. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Furthermore, making this small shift would celebrate the purpose and sacrifice of our fighting forces. Runoffs take place on the last Sunday of the same October. Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. [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. Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' These include national, state, and local government representatives at all levels up to the president. Countries like France, Germany, and India all recognize Election Day as a national holiday or hold elections on the weekend in order to increase voter turnout. An ordinary act of Congress could move Election Day to a Saturday or make it a holiday, thereby giving more people more . This article was published more than10 years ago. Reformers will be far more successful adding a few days or options or opportunities than trying to undo Election Day.. Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. Theyare still considerably higher than in the United States, which typically sees about 65% on average turn out to vote for major elections. 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. 2. By Monday morning, nearly 60 million had already voted early across the country, closing in on half of 2016's total voter turnout. Argentina has instated compulsory voting laws, but only sees about 76% voter turnout. Should the United States Use the Electoral College in Presidential Elections? Sunday: first Sunday of February for the President, Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly; second Sunday of February for municipal elections. Like Perez, Becker thinks giving voters more time and opportunity to vote is the best approach. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. 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. Obama Expresses Support For Making Election Day A National Holiday It is very, very hard to change core American traditions which Americans see not only as propping up their democracy but perpetuating its legitimacy, he said. While no state has proposed reinstating the literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses that effectively ended the burst of African-American franchise during Reconstruction, todays efforts to disenfranchise minority voters are similarly unsubtle. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. Make Election Day a national holiday - Brookings [1], Over time, voting rights expanded from only white, male landowners age 21 and older to include women and people of color, as well as citizens age 18 and up, resulting in a dramatic increase in the voting-eligible population and a shift in voter demographics. 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." They stated, Citizen Day would do more than give our democracy the honor that it deserves; it would help our democracy work better. Election Day is a state holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York. Yet, few of us, especially those who have worked on Capitol Hill, harbor . Understanding what happened in the Chicago mayoral race. And it will, in turn, help strengthen the idea that businesses can and will come together for a worthy common purpose: protecting our democracy by empowering all American workers to be good citizens. [30], Solutions such as automatic voter registration, same-day registration, early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, restoring voting rights to former felons, improved civics education, and voter outreach would all improve voter participation more reliably than a national holiday. Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York have also made Election Day into a state holiday. An additional day off school would prove to be problematic for individuals who may not have other readily accessible forms of childcare. [24], People who have already suffered significant disenfranchisement, such as women and people of color, are more likely to be working those low-income jobs that wouldnt get the time off to vote even on a national holiday. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. 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.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. 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. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off House Democrats introduced their first piece of legislation in the new Congress this week, an anti-corruption bill that proposes making Election Day a federal holiday and encourages . Mr. CHRISTENSEN: One of the biggest countries that uses compulsory voting is Australia. Saturday, but can be any day of the week, such as when a Saturday conflicts with a holiday. 5 Reasons Election Day Should Be a National Holiday - Global Citizen procon@eb.com, 2022 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Proponents say teens are knowledgeable enough to vote. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. By comparison,. [16]. 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. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off According to the country's website detailing their "digital society," online voting has soared from 1.9% in 2005 to 30.5% in 2015. 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. 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. In Estonia, a national ID card (required for every citizen in the country) can be used to vote remotely. Turning Election Day into a national holiday would instill a sense of pride in all citizens, knowing they have the ability to cast a ballot regardless of work. "Voting is a fundamental right,. ", Obama: "Absolutely. In 2018, the general election was held on Wednesday. Today in my country it is a national holiday as we celebrate the day A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. Monday in early September. These changes would send the message that voting is not a privilege to be bought with job security and time to spare, but rather an essential responsibility every person ought to undertake. The correct answer is B. Advertisement Advertisement marberman marberman US voter turnout trails most developed countries. [ 18][ 19] Con 1 South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. Its hard to say. $4+ Billion Cost To Give Federal Employees A New Paid Holiday - Forbes On U.S. Election Day, A Look At How Others Vote : NPR But while experts say such a scheme is unlikely to fly in the US, making it easier for people to vote would appear to be a step in the right direction. While young people are generally less likely to vote, they are more motivated by the issue of freedom of speech than older generations. 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. 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. On Sunday, Virginia Democratic Gov. Where is Election Day a holiday? - The Fulcrum Estonia This tiny Baltic nation is making waves for introducing something that seems completely logical in the digital age -- online voting. Whether election day should be made a national holiday is debated. Election Day is not a national holiday in 2022, but some states require employees get paid time off to vote. Explore which countries have weekend voting with Pew Research. 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. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? Martin Luther King Jr. Day Washington's Birthday Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Constitution Day Election Day Veterans Day Bill of Rights Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on third Monday of January each year, near the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do. Arizona, for example, allows employees who do not have three consecutive hours before or after work when the polls are open to take paid time off to vote at the start or end of their work days.