Come on, president Biden, just do this.

[634-5789]

[Haggard Celine]

1. I think Congress has to declare national holidays.

Usually they pass the law and the President signs it. I don't think he can declare it by executive order.

[pandr32]

2. That would also help by establishing the correct day

There have been instances where Republicans have sent out incorrect dates in order to cripple voting in certain districts.

[KS Toronado]

3. Joe's on this with Nancy & Chuck

Been reported they will break the voting rights package into smaller pieces,
we should get some things passed. Wish we'd go strictly paper ballots.

[OnDoutside]

6. But even small pieces require 60 votes ?

[Silent3]

12. That idea is based on the fallacy that there's some part of voting rights so reasonable...

...even a Republican would vote for it.

But reasonable has nothing to do with it. Republicans are loving how they are tilting the playing field ever more in their favor. Not even the supposedly most honorable and reasonable Republicans (like those willing to vote for Trump's impeachment) are willing to sacrifice any of their electoral advantages whatsoever.

Apart from the surprising Republican votes for the first infrastructure bill (I can only guess because they know ways to cash in on the various projects in their states) Republicans also have no desire to give Biden anything that looks like a victory for Biden.

The only voting legislation a Republican would possibly vote for at this point is something that makes them look good while also being mostly ineffective.

[KS Toronado]

13. Kinda how I was thinking, "some part of voting rights so reasonable..."

Would they vote against a national holiday to vote? Most people would be for this I believe, but then I'm not
a stupid reQublicOn running for reelection who might do anything to help himself instead of the voters.
At least we'll get some talking points.......he/she voted against abc & xyz

[Mr.Bill]

17. They are not going to vote yes on anything

that will make Biden successful.

[onenote]

4. At most he could declare it a holiday for federal employees

He could not make it a holiday for everyone. That would have to be done state by state.

[OnDoutside]

5. Whose idea is this ? Sounds like a great one !

[Hoyt]

7. Honestly, don't think it would increase participation that much.

Majority of states have early voting, no-excuse absentee ballots, mail voting, etc.

Plus, skeptical about anything that might encourage people to wait until last minute. Too many things come up, weather is unpredictable, etc.

Think I’d rather see more mail and drop-box voting than a holiday, with easy registration.

[Freddie]

11. Universal mail-in voting

Would be far more useful than a holiday that most people won’t get anyway. Of course the R’s here in PA are trying to end it, even though it was their idea in 2019.

[KS Toronado]

14. Yes, Universal mail-in voting should be a top priority.

[Lonestarblue]

35. Texas has made mail ballots a nightmare to get.

My local Nextdoor has been full of complaints from seniors who vote by mail and this year even having their requests for a mail ballot rejected. Instructions for the request are so confusing that the local evening news did a segment on how to fill out the request! I’m sure the actual ballot will be even more confusing because Republicans do not want anyone in Travis County voting—too Democratic.

There is also the little matter of not having drop boxes, relying on the Postal Service to deliver ballots on time, and Louis DeJoy is going nowhere. A DeJoy ally was just made head of the Board of Governors, and Biden’s appointees are still stuck in the Senate. Looks like DeJoy has more time to kill the USPS.

[KS Toronado]

36. Texas seems to to leading the country in voter suppression.

Even run out of paper to request (something) because of supply chain issues, read Biden's fault. I sure hope
enough liberals and independents put in the extra efforts to vote in the midterms. IMHO, this is going
to be the most important election in my lifetime. Hope everyone is making sure their names are on the
voting rolls.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. And I can just see all the

"Election Day Blowout Sale!!!" at stores everywhere. Good luck on those workers being able to get to the polls.

No, good early voting, absentee voting, or better yet all mail-in voting, as several states have already done.

I have the good fortune to live in a state with excellent early voting (New Mexico) and better yet, I can go to any voting site in my county, tell them who I am (no bullshit about showing ID) and the ballot I need is printed up on the spot. It should be a model for every state.

[book_worm]

9. Can he just do that? I wish people would research things like this when they post

because I believe congress has to pass such an act.

[cadoman]

10. this is the sort of low hanging fruit legislation that we need to pass more often

And ffs when can we get pot taken off schedule 1? If we don't make that happen under Biden there's a decent chance it happens under a gqp regime (purely out of popular inertia) and they get all the credit for what should have been our policy?

[DENVERPOPS]

23. The real damage is not done by pot

They should list Alcohol and Tobacco as Schedule 1 drugs............

[Red Mountain]

15. I don't think doing nothing is a good option

Make it a Federal holiday. To the extent that impacts other parts of the economy there will be a ripple effect.

Republicans will scream and tear at their clothes.....nothing they can do about it other than perhaps NEGOTIATE?

I've read that Federal employees skew heavily Democratic. The Republicans will hate that.

[George II]

19. He can't make it a Federal holiday, and he's NOT doing nothing. In fact, he acted 10 months ago....

...way back in March about a month and a half after taking office. See post #18.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

16. He can't do that

Congress has to establish holidays. Biden can give the day off to Federal workers, that's it.

[George II]

18. President Biden cannot do that. He did sign an Executive Order (way back in March)....

....to look into the possibility of expanding time off to allow Federal employees to vote.

https://www.fedsmith.com/2021/03/08/biden-signs-executive-order-to-explore-giving-federal-employees-time-off-to-vote/

Excerpt:

(a) coordinate with the heads of executive agencies, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105, to provide recommendations to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, on strategies to expand the Federal Government’s policy of granting employees time off to vote in Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial elections. Such recommendations should include efforts to ensure Federal employees have opportunities to participate in early voting.

(b) Coordinate with the heads of executive agencies, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105, to provide recommendations to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, on strategies to better support Federal employees who wish to volunteer to serve as non-partisan poll workers or non‑partisan observers, particularly during early or extended voting periods.

[NurseJackie]

20. Thank you!

Facts are important.

[Moebym]

24. Thank you for this.

[LiberalArkie]

21. I would like to see him push for a bill on dental, health and optical case. Just that alone.

Be hard for a lot of Republicans to vote against it as just about all the voters are in favor of it..

[MacKasey]

22. Mail in voting!!!

[Justice matters.]

26. Toss DeJoy in DeJail first!

[OMGWTF]

25. 100% mail-in voting is the answer.

No lines, no intimidation, no elements to deal with. Get Louis Dejerk out of the USPS ASAP.

[FoxNewsSucks]

27. A holiday might be nice, but it's not the solution.

We've all seen the stories of long lines on election day, in "certain" districts. Of broken voting machines, closed polling places etc. A voting-day holiday addresses none of the real problems caused by republicon cheating and suppression.

[jaxexpat]

28. If it takes Republicans to do it, it's a nonstarter.

They're still mad about Labor day.

[soldierant]

29. That will not solve the problem.

And it's no damned wonder they think we are elitist for thinking it will.

Huge numbers of underrepresented voters are working in hourly jobs. A good portion of those are in "essential" services. If they take a holiday, they don't get paid. If they work the holiday, they do. If they are lucky, they get time-and-a-half. I have been there. That extra money can mean the difference between getting to the next paydaqy and getting saddled with a late fee on something. I have worked a lot of holidays.

Sure, it would be nice for Election Day to be a Federal holiday. It would be a great replacement for Columbus Day, if we can't manage to get that turned into Indigenous Peoples Day. What iy would NOT do is make it easy for EVERYONE to voye. Only for SOME people.

I live in an all mail voting state, and I consider that to make voting easiest for the greatest number of people. I do feel the envelopes should be franked... but that's my biggest issuem and I think that's pretty good.

[dflprincess]

30. Anmouncing it's a national holiday,

even if Congress does ir, doesn't mean people will get the day off.

Retail workers are lucky of they get Thanksgiving and Christmas Day off. Most office workers can add New Year's, Memorial, Independence, and Labor Days to the list. But, for the most part, only government and bank employees get all federal holidays off.

[Sherman A1]

31. More internet Meme nonsense

Things just don't work that way.

[stopdiggin]

32. don't think it would significantly increase turnout

universal ballots by mail would effect much greater change.
2) I don't think it's a presidential prerogative
3) Democrats should continue to hold Rs feet to the fire over voting rights at ever opportunity (whatever facet is under discussion) - because, in general, the public has a very dim view of obstacles and curtailments.
(although it might help if we would concentrate a little less on 'bottles of water'.)

[Joinfortmill]

33. Excellent!

[mentalsolstice]

34. Just a week or 2 before Veterans Day. Not gonna happen. nt