Can we, for one year, make Election Day a holiday?

[SomethingFishy]

Just to see? I see tons of threads today decrying that people aren't seeing "the youth" at the polls. They see lots of people with walkers, and wheelchairs but no young people. You know, that really shocks me, in the middle of a WORK and SCHOOL DAY.

Election day is the most important day of the year for a Democracy yet we force working people to squeeze their vote in in the hour or two they have off after work. Why can't we make it a holiday for just one year and see what that does for the voter turnout. I would bet money that the turnout would increase a minimum of 10% and probably more like 30...

Yeah there are absentee ballots. Most people however don't know you can get an absentee ballot without a reason. For years I thought you had to be out of town or handicapped or something. Back in 08' the woman(thank you!) at the polls informed me that all you have to do is ask. And in turn I have informed at least a dozen people this year. All of whom had no idea they could vote without ever leaving their house. Voting from home is so much better as you have access to information you may need to make a sound judgement on some issues..

We have a day off for the Presidents, for the Veterans, for the Signing of The Declaration, for Dr Kings birthday. All these people fought and worked for a basic right. One person, one vote. You would think that these men would rather see you get a day off so you can go vote than one to honor their Birthday.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. I would make it a two day affair, on a Saturday and Sunday

Makes more sense, IMHO.

[SomethingFishy]

4. Yeah man, CELEBRATE this...

Like it's freakin Christmas... We want a liberal country, we need everyone to vote.

[upaloopa]

2. Make it a holiday and people will go hunting or skiing.

I don't think it will increase turnout unless everything else was closed.

[SomethingFishy]

5. Then close everything. It's not like the day isn't important.

[MANative]

3. Lovely idea...

but if we can't get stores to close even on Thanksgiving and Christmas, I don't see it happening for something as "trivial" to these corporate master as voting. My husband will be working both holidays this year at the retail store he manages. No choice, no extra pay, no extra time off. Do it, or consider it your resignation if you refuse. Do you really think that the response would be any more employee-friendly for voting?

[SomethingFishy]

7. So you make it more employee and employer friendly..

I'll repeat myself.. this is the single most important day of the year to a Democracy Perhaps we should start treating it as such.

[rollin74]

6. we have 2 weeks of early voting where I live

at any of a number of locations throughout the county

if you can't get to the polls during early voting or on election day then you weren't going to anyway

don't think making it a "holiday" would make any difference

plus A LOT of people still have to work on holidays

[SomethingFishy]

8. Not every place has 2 weeks of early voting..

and everyone that does... has it during WORKING HOURS. There are no days off or weekends, if you don't vote absentee and you have a job you have to go to the polls on a work day. Period.

It's epically stupid considering this is supposed to be how we [i[]elect our leaders.

BTW I'm not just talking about getting a day off. I'm talking about making this an event like the goddamn Super Bowl. Right now the only people who care about this are political junkies, corporations and the media. The average American could care less about election day.

[rollin74]

10. I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea

I just don't think that it would make any difference in my state or other places that have early voting or mail-in ballots

there were multiple voting locations open on the weekend during early voting in my area(supermarkets, shopping centers and some libraries)

[SomethingFishy]

12. Which is why I suggested just trying it once

to see if it makes a difference. If it makes at least a 10% difference then we should try it again with more fanfare.

[actslikeacarrot]

9. I think we should combine...

Veterans Day and Election Day. I don't think there could be a higher honor for those who have or are serving. At each parade or Veterans Day event we could have voting machines ready to go.

[SomethingFishy]

11. I like it... Thanks...

People seem to think this isn't an issue, but to me there seems to be a disconnect between the importance of the day and the way the day is actually treated.

[LoveIsNow]

13. If I had my druthers, I would make a federal law

mandating a paid holiday for all general elections, federal, state, and local. I would like to see everything but hospitals, etc., closed down. Obviously, some people will still stay home, but by giving people that big of a reminder and that much of an opportunity to vote, you will definitely increase turnout.

Businesses won't like it, but they will just have to deal with it. I know it's un-American to say this, but democracy is worth more than one day's profits.

[SomethingFishy]

14. Exactly! I can't believe I'm getting so much opposition

to even just trying it... It's kind of an important day.