Is it better for Dems to have election on Satuday rather than Tuesday?

[kentuck]

Will this improve the turnout for Dems in Louisiana? Or will the result be the same as in KY and MS ? Is there a lesson here for the Dems? Do Repubs vote in larger percentages when the election is on a weekday?

I do not recall if the special election with Mary Landrieu was on a Saturday. Does it make any difference what day the election is on?

[TSIAS]

1. Landrieu's election was a Saturday

But I'm not sure what bearing it had on the race.

[Karenina]

2. Is this a rhetorical question?

The very fact that most important American elections are held on a WORK DAY is PROOF POSITIVE of an institutionalized and often successful ploy to skew results and disenfranchise voters. "Election Day" properly held is a DAY OFF TO PERFORM A CIVIC DUTY.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Polls open for 12 hours on a workday is best for both Dems and Repubs

The interests of neither candidates nor corporations would be served by making voting more accessible to the bottom 75% income tier.

That being said, having the polls open for 12 hours on a Saturday would not make a significant difference, but would be a cosmetic change that could be presented as a big step toward inclusion.

Actually changing the duration of elections and making voting accessible to the poor would result in nothing less than a revolution, which is why it has not been done.

[bluestateguy]

4. Probably Democrats, but not always

I imagine this would raise turnout. In a more religiously plural state like New York one could argue that Sat. voting is unfair to Jews, who observe the Sabbath on that day (70% Democrat). Still there are plenty of people out there who would rather be doing other things on Sat. than voting.

There is also the football issue: all the conservative white men sitting at home watching LSU football.

[Some Moran]

7. Don't bash football fans...

I see plenty of liberal fans in the lounge. :)

[dragonlady]

9. Absentee voting

If an election were on Saturday, I would just vote early by absentee ballot. Surely religious observance would be sufficient for allowing absentee voting in the states that require a reason.

[James T. Kirk]

5. Should not make a difference.

I work full time and I've never missed a Tuesday election I was interested in. The polls open early and they stay open late. The hard part is actually making people get off their couches and go to the polling place.

[kentuck]

10. Maybe Democrats work harder than Repubs on the average...

and it might have an impact when the election is on a Tuesday. These are two "Saturday" elections in a row in LA that the Dems have taken. Maybe there is something to it?

[mlawson]

6. Many states now have 2-3 weeks of voting.

I can simply drop by the county election office, and vote within three weeks of election day, Monday through Friday. Same in TN.

Persons looking for an excuse to NOT vote, have to find one other than convenience.

[alcuno]

8. Why can't we all have it on Saturday?

Because "they" want low voter turnout.

[proud patriot]

11. I've always thought it should be a holiday or weekend day

people who commute , have a hard time making it
to the polls before they close .

[JI7]

12. bill clinton supports day off for voting

bill clinton supports a holiday for voting. the republicans would never support such a thing as it would mean a high turnout which usually benefits democrats.

[tedoll78]

13. Another thing to consider..

Democrats really have their act together when it comes to get-out-the-vote in New Orleans. I'd love to see what strategies Blanco and Landrieu employed in this area.. it could be a lesson for Democrats nationwide.