The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. There's nothing that would stop voters here from treating a Democracy Day like just another day off.". Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey agrees. Elections Project, which is close to the complete voter . It is very, very hard to change core American traditions.. These numbers also may be indicative of higher turnout for major elections, but may not reflect engagement in local or regional elections. CBS News reporter covering climate change and energy. I'll look into this some more and may change it on the map. [8], In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. Because the impact of a federal holiday is far-reaching, many states and workplaces would likely follow suit. 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.". (And in case youre curious, November was chosen as the month for similar reasons: It was after fall harvest was over but before the cold winter weather set in.). What we're proposing isn't that every Election Day becomes a national holiday, just the presidential election, which only takes place once every four years. The United States has held federal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years since 1845. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. Congress would shore up the peoples right to vote while guaranteeing the time to engage in this fundamental right. Some countries, about 27 of them,make voting compulsory. According to Pew Research data, US voter turnout trails most developed countries. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. Have you experienced an election day in another country, or do you know how voting works in a place we haven't mentioned here? Runoffs take place on the last Sunday of the same October. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Yet, few of us, especially those who have worked on Capitol Hill, harbor . 4. Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. This map, inspired by a Reddit thread with a similar map, shows the national days of the world's countries. 22 June 1986, 29 October 1989, 6 June 1993, 3 March 1996, 12 March 2000, 14 March 2004, 9 March 2008, 20 November 2011, 20 December 2015, 26 June 2016. And she thinks corporate America has been leading the way, pointing out several businesses, including Walmart and Coca-Cola, that have announced paid time off and other accommodations to make voting easier for employees on November 3. As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way . 1. It would take an act of Congress to make Election Day a national holiday, and there is currently a bill proposing to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday before a special committee. [31] Same-day registration boosts turnout by 5%, and universal implementation of it would have added as many as 4.8 million voters in the 2016 election, according to Danielle Root, JD, and Liz Kennedy, JD, from the Center for American Progress. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 18:43. In the United States, it varies from state to state and even county to county, so the idea that one entire country might use the same voting method is actually pretty unique to Americans! Even among the nine weekday voting countries, South Korea's and Israel's voters take a day off work on the day of the election to ensure higher electoral participation. 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. But these days, Tuesdays are actually quite inconvenient for many Americans, particularly those who cant take time off work to cast their ballots a problem that disproportionately affects Black, Latino and lower-income voters. After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? Elections Held on Tuesdays?, britannica.com (accessed Sep. 30, 2019), Evan Andrews, "Election 1010: Why Do We Vote on a Tuesday in November?, history.com, Aug. 31, 2018, Grace Panetta and Olivia Reaney, "Today Is National Voter Registration Day. [7] A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. 2. Omissions? 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. Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. 2020, Virginia. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote; this year, a staggering 47.5%participated in the midterms, compared to 37% in 2014 and 41% in 2010, the years of other midterm elections. For starters, the United States is rather unique in that it schedules its election day on a weekday, let alone a Tuesday. 3. This is the day we cast ballots to select public officials from local to the national government. Compared to other developed countries, America's voter turnout rate is pretty sad. But none of those states have considerably high turnout compared to those where it isn't a holiday. So the question of how you label Ireland goes back to which holiday you consider its national day. In some states where they don't have mail-in ballots, voting can take a lot of time out of the day. In 2007, the country held the world's first general Internet election. And that election saw the second highest voter turnout in 20 years. States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. 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). Today in my country it is a national holiday as we celebrate the day when St. Paul converted our whole country to Catholicism in AD 60. The Evolution of American Voting Rights in 242 Years Shows How Far Weve Come -- and How Far We Still Have to Go, businessinsider.com, Sep. 24, 2019, University of Houston Digital History, "Agriculture, digitalhistory.uh.edu (accessed Sep. 24, 2019), USDA, "Ag and Food Sectors and the Economy, ers.usda.gov, Sep. 20, 2019, Legal Information Institute, "5 U.S. Code 6103. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Could that ever happen in the U.S.? And I think on Election Day we should have a national holiday which says, 'you don't have to rush to vote.' In previous elections, that percentage was even higher. It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil . Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. But Gupta said that there's been a "lack of political will" to give the initiative some momentum. [12], The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday, according to Archon Fung, PhD, and Jane Mansbridge, PhD, professors at the Harvard Kennedy School. 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. Election officials in various states have predicted historic levels of turnout in 2020, with a chance to reach the highest ever. Puerto Rico's voter turnout has gone as high as 80 . If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the other side of the issue now helps you better argue your position. To paraphrase one of the commenters on the Reddit thread, is certainly is ironic that the British empire that is indirectly responsible for so many of the world's independence days has no real national day of its own. I think, to the best of my knowledge, it's something like $20. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, 2020 North Macedonian parliamentary election, "THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA. A simple but effective change, however, could be made in election timing. It was created in 1992,. Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. US voter turnout trails most developed countries. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue . While these provisions represent major steps in the right direction, they are not enough. Maybe that could give us some hint as to the frequent foreign sensitivities and accusations, right or wrong, about Western foreign policy echoing old colonial practices. Some businesses may close, but their hourly paid employees will either have to use a PTO day or not get paid.. [ 17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. So, focusing voting efforts to one day doesn't do enough to accommodate everyone, Becker argues. 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. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday.However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. "While this would not be a cure-all, it would indicate a national commitment to create a more vibrant democracy.". While countries like Belgium, Sweden, and Turkey saw more than 80% of their estimated voting-age population cast votes in recent elections, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population. [36]. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. 3) Britain and Denmark have no national days. NOW WATCH: Arianna Huffingtons advice to Hillary Clinton, the majority of US states have voter leave laws, You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list, voted during the 2016 presidential election, experts say such a scheme is unlikely to fly in the US, The evolution of American voting rights in 242 years shows how far we've come and how far we still have to go, In an interview with President Barack Obama in 2016. "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons." While the Republican efforts are shrouded in their supposed desire to protect the integrity of elections, there is no evidence of significant voter fraud in recent elections, including presidential election in 2020. 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. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. In some of these countries, voting is compulsory, and in most of them, Election Day is a holiday. ", Others, however, are skeptical that creating a national holiday would increase voter turnout. 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. [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. Election Day is a US State Holiday observed on several states on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every even-numbered year. Incidentally, Australia routinely reaches more than 90. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Think about that: In most of the world, the sense of national identity is shaped by the act of cutting, or in some cases violently throwing off, the chains of colonialism. [2] Sundays were for rest and worship, and on Wednesdays farmers typically sold their crops at the market, making Tuesdays the best day of the week. Making Election Day a holiday would not necessarily involve adding a new holiday, which employers might resistparticularly following the addition of Juneteenth as a national holiday last week. Will the party listen to them on the issues? https://www.britannica.com/question/Should-election-day-be-made-a-national-holiday. But it is not a federal holiday. Of these countries, 27 hold their national elections on a weekend. Countries which permit absentee ballots, early ballots or postal votes to be cast by mail before the election avoid the problem altogether by enabling voters to vote on a day that is more convenient to them. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. If you make election day a federal holiday, youll have all the people who work in these types of jobs still having to work, being inundated with customers who have the day off and they wont have child care because the schools will be closed, Suzanne Lucas, who previously worked in human resources, wrote in a piece for Inc.com. Third Monday of October every four years, or after Parliament is dissolved by the. For more information on how to vote, head over to our TurboVote module. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. Holidays, law.cornell.edu (accessed Sep. 30, 2019), Matthew Haag, "Mitch McConnell Calls Push to Make Election Day a Holiday a Democratic Power Grab," nytimes.com, Jan. 31, 2019, Drew DeSilver, "U.S. Trails Most Developed Countries in Voter Turnout, pewresearch.org, May 21, 2018, Gustavo Lpez and Antonio Flores, "Dislike of Candidates or Campaign Issues Was Most Common Reason for Not Voting in 2016, pewresearch.org, June 1, 2017, Beau C. Tremitiere, "Election Day Should Be a National Holiday, cnbc.com, July 5, 2016, York Dispatch Editorial Board, "Editorial: On Voting, GOP Takes a Holiday from its Senses, yorkdispatch.com, Feb. 1, 2019, Tacey Rychter, "How Compulsory Voting Works: Australians Explain," nytimes.com, Nov. 5, 2018, Archon Fung and Jane Mansbridge, "Lets Vote, Party and Celebrate American Democracy on a New Holiday Called Citizen Day, usatoday.com, Oct. 26, 2018, Thomas MacMillan, "This Might Be the Best Idea for Turning out More Voters in U.S. Elections, nymag.com, July 8, 2017, Drew Desilver, "Weekday Elections Set the U.S. apart from Many Other Advanced Democracies, pewresearch.org, Nov. 6, 2018, Kathy Frankovic, "St. Patricks Day Not So Popular - Americans Would Rather Election Day a Holiday, today.yougov.com, Mar. Image 2. National and Festival Holiday Act, which is applicable to all establishments in the country, irrespective of under which law it is formed it is mandatory to grant leave on following 3 days, i.e. Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. While countries like Belgium, Sweden, and Turkey saw more than 80% of their estimated voting-age population cast votes in recent elections, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted during the 2016 presidential election. 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. Newsweek subscription offers > "For example, Australia typically has a turnout in the 90 percent or more range, and other nations such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico achieve. It happens to be on the day the politicians themselves get elected. [26] Caravanas are joyful, noisy parades of cars festooned with flags and other decorations that stream through Puerto Ricos streets ahead of an election and are credited with the islands over 80% voter turnout. We also know that countries that have marked their election days as federal events see higher voting turnouts than the United States. Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. "[Early and at-home voting] helps prevent bottlenecks for election administrators because it 'flattens the curve' for when ballots are cast by large numbers of voters," Perez said. [27], Companies including Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Patagonia, and Walmart have joined Make Time to Vote campaign, which encourages employers to provide paid time off, schedule no meetings on Election Day, and give information on mail-in ballots and early voting. It's amazing how much of the map is green, indicating countries that celebrate a national independence day every year. 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. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. Corrections? Hailey said the country needs a "cultural shift" to prioritize voting. Before that point, states could hold their presidential elections on any day within a certain 34-day window. Voter turnout in the United States is usually considered low, especially in years without a presidential election. Election Day - Tuesday, Nov. 8 - is a special day, with voters casting ballots across the country. [28][29], Patagonia, an outdoor clothing retailer, paused operation on Nov. 6, 2018 so that all employees could vote. However, those numbers may be attributed to a combination of factors not solely because their elections occur on non-work days. Establishing Election Day as a holiday, taken together with the pending federal voting rights reforms, would go a long way towards stabilizing democracy and ensuring basic democratic rights. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the . Saturday, but can be any day of the week, such as when a Saturday conflicts with a holiday. 3. [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. Especially given that 65% of Americans support making election day a national holiday and 43% of voters already live in one of the 19 states with some form of voting holiday. 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. 26 th January (Republic Day), 15 th August (Independence Day) and 2 nd October (Gandhi Jayanti). Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Voter turnout in the U.S. is generally quite low, trailing behind that of other developed democracies around the world, according to another Pew study. The US ranks 26th out of 32 for voter turnout among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. Experts told CBS News that it's no coincidence this is occurring in a year when Americans have more time and more ways to vote than ever before. Thats not to say no one has tried. Portugal celebrates the 1580 death of celebrated national poet Luis de Camoes, Spain celebrates Columbus Day (yes, the holiday is a little controversial there as well, although not as much as in the U.S.), the Netherlands celebrates the queen's birthday but it still use her mother's birthday for the date and, in Greenland, the celebrate the longest day of the year. As for Denmark, it has a national liberation day and some people celebrate international worker's day, but neither is a public holiday. the Tuesday that occurs within November 2 to November 8. This is partially due to the influence of Protestantism, which historically set restrictions on activities other than church-going during the Sabbath (usually considered as falling on a Sunday). "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. 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. Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. "Voting is a fundamental right,. One major reason: It comes down to tradition, Troy said. Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. [10][11]] "With the variety of challenges that election officials face, [making Election Day a holiday] is well down on the list of those things that need to be addressed," Becker said.
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