Is there any good reason we don't hold elections over the weekends?

[theHandpuppet]

Couldn't we expect a better voter turnout if voting on a Saturday was a possibility? I know plenty of folks who have long commutes or are dealing with kids in school, day care, etc on weekdays and for whom voting on Tuesdays leaves them a small window of available time. Then if there's a line or a problem with the voting machines in your precinct (it's happened here more than once) well, you're shit outta luck.

I don't know the history behind Tuesday voting but it makes no sense to me. I'd much prefer a two-day voting window, such as a Sat-Sun setup.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. The Constitution

The date was set in there and I agree, should be changed, good luck with the Amendment.

[theHandpuppet]

4. But what was the reasoning behind it?

It seems arbitrary to me. How did they come up with Tuesday, of all days?

But you're right -- I don't think we have a chance in hell of changing it, not with the RW doing everything in their power to prevent people from voting at all.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Sunday is prayer day, the Sabbath

It took a day to ride to the County seat. They did not have polling stations everywhere. So you could not travel during the Sabbath, and it took a day average of riding. That left Tuesday.

And I agree, it should be changed. Hell, we should just go to mail in ballots. Oregon is a very successful experiment. I say that as somebody who likes to physically go to the precinct.

[jeff47]

11. I'm rather concerned about 100% mail-in

because it makes vote buying practical.

Right now, some guy offers you $20 to vote for Senator Sonofabitch as you walk into a polling place. You say "Sure", then go vote for another candidate. He has no way to ensure you are actually voting for the candidate he's buying for.

Mail in ballots fix that - they can check the ballot before paying.

I realize it's worked in Oregon, but Oregon hasn't been a swing state in a national election in a long time. With national-election level money, vote buying could become a problem in swing states.

Of course, I could be wrong and it may all work out fine. But I don't put it past the Republicans to literally buy votes when they still have piles of cash and have run out of ad slots.

[jeff47]

8. To avoid offending our lord and savior.

Needed to have time to go to church on Sunday and then spend Monday travelling to the polling place.

[Brother Buzz]

18. The Constitution did NOT establish a date, it gave Congress the authotity to set the date

Clause 4: Election day

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing (sic) the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.


CALL CONGRESS RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!111!!111

[Jenoch]

20. Actually, the Constitution

gives the power to select the election day to congress. The present system was set up sometime in the mid 1800s. I am sure back then they were not going to make election day on a Sunday. There is a law about the electoral college voting within 34 days of the election in the constitution however. That is why the Supreme Court had to make a vote on the 2000 presidential election when they did, it's in the Constitution.

[Coyotl]

2. Election workers work Monday to Friday, voting is mandated to be on Tuesday. Should be holiday!

[theHandpuppet]

6. I agree

I think there would also be a lot more volunteer poll workers if voting days were "holidays" per se. a lot of folks can't sacrifice a day's pay to work the polls.

[putitinD]

3. back in the olden days, elections were held on Tuesdays. to not interfere with church

[Brickbat]

5. In some states it's a civic holiday, and in some states the law says you get time off to vote.

I think vote-by-mail and early voting would be a better solution.

[jeff47]

9. IMO it should be both weekend days

And employers should be required to give one of those days off. Would allow businesses to stay open 7 days yet give everyone an entire day to vote.

[MissMillie]

10. Those that have trouble getting to the polls on a Tuesday

Can always vote by absentee ballot.

I think weekends would be better, but as someone else pointed out Sunday is "prayer day" for Christians and Saturday is Sabbath for the Jewish community.

[treestar]

21. Even so, why can't we vote on those days

Church doesn't last all day.

[MissMillie]

22. As Ouiser Boudreau (Steel Magnolias) says

"I don't know why. I don't make the rules."

[Nye Bevan]

12. Voting by mail for all solves all of those problems. (nt)

[SoCalDem]

13. Takes a constitutional amendment..

Can you ever see the Hatfield & McCoys agreeing to it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I don't even want to watch that one

From the safety of a distant hill. Stray ammo is not fun

[uponit7771]

15. More people would vote, conservatives hate that

[Capt. Obvious]

16. OT pay

I would argue (as I do in every "we should make election day a national holiday" thread) that even less people would vote.

[Cal Carpenter]

17. Disenfranchisement, baby!

It's the American Way!

[Fumesucker]

19. In order to keep too many poors from voting of course