Don't you think Americans need MORE TIME to vote?

[Philosoraptor]

I think its stupid to ask a nation of so many millions to funnel all their voting time into a 12 hour period on one day. Millions simply can't get to the polls in time or can't take off work or life to do it.

I have always thought voting should last about a week or a month even.

[SmokingJacket]

1. It should be a national holiday.

Or at the very least, employers should be required to give people three hours off to vote, paid.

Somehow I feel like letting it last a month leaves too much time for funny business.

[bryant69]

3. I agree with this - it should just be a national holiday

Hell considering all the holidays we've lost and the longer hours we are all working, it's not like they can't afford it.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. I fully agree

Election Day should be a national and state holiday. Close the banks, close the financial exchanges. Election Day should be at least as big as Thanksgiving.

[timber84]

7. Ditto

National Holiday!

[babylonsister]

2. Many states have early voting; polls have been open

where I live since last Monday and ends today. But I know there are states that only have one day.
Two arguments; the early voting could potentially give some crook time to cook the numbers, but I do think more people do vote.
Voting on election day doesn't give those same crooks as much time to mess with the numbers.
So sad I even have to think in those terms, but there you have it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Absolutely. Why have it on a workday, and why only12 hours?

It's unworkable for many reasons.

[Demeter]

6. I Think We Should Vote On October 31st

Gives true meaning to the phrase "Trick or Treat", combines two national events, and if the election goes pear-shaped, we can add in my hometown Detroit's tradition of Devil's Night. For the Anglophiles, we can drag Guy Fawkes Day into the mix. And it should be a holiday.

[gratuitous]

8. That's why I like vote by mail

I get a chance to look over my ballot, let my views on a few measures percolate, gather some information, then mark my ballot and send it off. No muss, very little fuss.

[Igel]

9. Priorities.

It's that simple. Few people work a shift that covers the entirety of the time the polls are open, both on election day and during early voting.

I lived in New York state for a while. The day after election day one of my wife's colleagues said she just couldn't find time to vote. She was so busy. She swam in the morning at 7, had breakfast, read at home for a while, arrived at work by 10, taught some classes, took an hour for lunch, went back to work, went home, had dinner, and read a novel. No time to vote.

She's was an ardent dem. Hated *. Thought Kerry was RW.

I told her I worked the polls that election day, we opened at 6 am and closed at 9 pm on election day. She could have voted before she swam. Or grabbed a sandwich for lunch. Or read her novel while standing in line at the voting booth.

"Too inconvenient." It told me--and her colleagues--where her priorities were. She rants in her office and on the street, but can't take 10 minutes to vote.