Election Practices in Other Countries That America Could Learn From As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way . [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. Not all of these marked the end of colonialism (for example, Austria's signifies the withdrawal of foreign militaries after World War II and the declaration of neutrality) but the vast majority do. And there is no better way to secure democracy than to ensure that everyone has not only the right to vote, but also the meaningful opportunity to cast their ballots. The name change required at least 50% voter participation, and opponents to the name change advocated not voting at all rather than voting against the measure. Is Election Day a federal holiday? | The US Sun States such as Georgia and Iowa already have passed restrictive measures and many others appear poised to do the same thing. Its hard to say. [16]. Puerto Rico's voter turnout has gone as high as 80 . Indigenous Peoples Day is a local and state holiday in some parts of the country usually held on Columbus Day that celebrates the cultures of Native Americans. Over 60 court cases reviewed the evidence and judgesappointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents alikereached the same conclusion: there was no compelling evidence of fraud. - Zkon o podmienkach vkonu volebnh", "The Effectiveness of Early Voting A Case Study of the Republic of Korea", "Ley Orgnica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Rgimen Electoral General", "Elections in Venezuela and Pennsylvania: Lessons in Democracy? Why or why not? Interestingly, 27 of the 36 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (made up largely of advanced democracies) conduct their national elections on the weekend. Russia's national holiday only goes back to 1992, when the Russian Federation was founded. And it will, in turn, help strengthen the idea that businesses can and will come together for a worthy common purpose: protecting our democracy by empowering all American workers to be good citizens. [30], Solutions such as automatic voter registration, same-day registration, early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, restoring voting rights to former felons, improved civics education, and voter outreach would all improve voter participation more reliably than a national holiday. So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. ProCon.org. Tuesday is Election Day, but only in some parts of the country will voters get the day off to cast their ballots. Research has found that higher trust in the government and democratic process leads to greater voter turnout. These changes would send the message that voting is not a privilege to be bought with job security and time to spare, but rather an essential responsibility every person ought to undertake. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the . 3 Countries Where It's Easier To Vote Than the United States All rights reserved. Operated 24:7 through the week. Should the United States use the Electoral College in presidential elections? But Gupta said that there's been a "lack of political will" to give the initiative some momentum. Like Perez, Becker thinks giving voters more time and opportunity to vote is the best approach. However, for the most part, most countries vote in person at the voting booth, and while countries may alter the length of election periods andthe equipment used in voting from election to election, it still tends to have many of the same features. A surprising map of the worlds national holidays (only two countries have no national day), Belarus sentences Nobel Peace laureate Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in jail, This is Bidens chance to press Scholz on Germanys rearmament, Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting over Bakhmut. For more information on how to vote, head over to our TurboVote module. Update: Some readers think that Ireland should also be considered an outlier, as St. Patrick's Day is often considered its primary "national day" and is not really an independence or revolution day. Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. Experts told CBS News that it's no coincidence this is occurring in a year when Americans have more time and more ways to vote than ever before. These numbers also may be indicative of higher turnout for major elections, but may not reflect engagement in local or regional elections. With Juneteenth now a national holiday, could Election Day and Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. Read more: You can take time off from work to vote in 30 states here's the full list. Accessed February 21, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/election-day-national-holiday-top-3-pros-and-cons/, potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day, election day should not be a national holiday. Because of the pandemic, more U.S. voters are exploring alternatives to voting on Election Day, such as early voting and mail-in voting. Australia sees around 91%, and 94% in Singapore. Let us make it as easy as we can," Sanders told CBS News. What we're proposing isn't that every Election Day becomes a national holiday, just the presidential election, which only takes place once every four years. List of national independence days - Wikipedia We are very proud that we are mentioned in the Bible. "[Early and at-home voting] helps prevent bottlenecks for election administrators because it 'flattens the curve' for when ballots are cast by large numbers of voters," Perez said. Sweden came second with 82.6%. These include national, state, and local government representatives at all levels up to the president. Lessons in How to Hold Elections", "GE2015: First time Polling Day falls on a Friday, but not first time polls held on a weekday", "180/2014 Z.z. 0:58. "Voting is a fundamental right,. 14, 2019, BBC, "Singapore Election: Governing Party Secure Decisive Win, bbc.com, Sep. 12, 2015, Holly Jackson, "It's Time to Make Election Day a Holiday in Law and Spirit," washingtonpost.com, Oct. 22, 2018, BCP Associates, "India Elections 2019 - Declaration of Paid Holiday on Polling Day, bcpassociates.com, Apr. The United States is out of step with the rest of the world: elections are held on weekends in 27 of the 36 OECD countries. So, workers having a day off to vote wouldn't be a disruption to the economy, or anything a citizen of our country could deny would be worthwhile and smart thing to do. Again, it is not clear that this is demonstrably true but it is a widespread perception. On Sunday, Virginia Democratic Gov. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Japan formally celebrates the anniversary of an ancient mythical emperor, although the holiday is mostly ignored today, due in part to its connections with Japan's ugly imperial history. Until 2009, elections were held over several consecutive Sundays. 2020, Virginia. 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those . (And in case youre curious, November was chosen as the month for similar reasons: It was after fall harvest was over but before the cold winter weather set in.). He thinks the increased options afforded by early and mail-in voting could be undermined by making Election Day a holiday, creating "a solution in search of a problem.". Meanwhile, in Macedonia this past September, voters chose to stay away from the polls because of the proposed name change for the country. And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who dont to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. Presented by:Defense Language and National Security Education Office, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote, looked at a few different methods of voting. Election Day National Holiday - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org ", ProCon.org. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. We also know that countries that have marked their election days as federal events see higher voting turnouts than the United States. Modern life operates around the clock. By comparison,. Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates, Election Day in the United States has occurred on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ever since President John Tyler signed an 1845 law establishing a specific voting day for the entire country. Incidentally, Australia routinely reaches more than 90. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. It's a reminder of turmoil of the last century a very short span in historical terms and how deeply its events influence the world today. Such low voter turnout rates in the United States have various reasons why many Americans decide not to vote, but one main reason is not giving them time to vote and cast their ballots. These efforts challenge fundamental values of American democracy and constitute a serious threat to the one person, one vote principle. Elections Project, which is close to the complete voter . [23], Annie McDonald, Editor of the Berkeley Public Policy Journal, noted that the workers who are least likely to get paid holidays are those who already have less of a voice in the political process: Americans working in retail, hospitality, and service jobs, for example, would most likely not receive the benefit of a paid holiday to vote. Exact date set by the. 2. For other uses, see. This . [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. All federal elections take place the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. Why are other countries better at conducting elections than we are? While some states have made Election Day a civic holiday (though it primarily applies to public workers) and most have laws that require companies to give employees some time off to vote, none of the legislative efforts to enact these changes on a national level have been successful. Have you experienced an election day in another country, or do you know how voting works in a place we haven't mentioned here? In Thailand, one of the very few countries outside of Europe that was never formally colonized, the king's birthday is celebrated (don't insult him or you might go to jail, per the lese majeste laws). Maybe that could give us some hint as to the frequent foreign sensitivities and accusations, right or wrong, about Western foreign policy echoing old colonial practices. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. Election Day is the day for general elections of public officials in the U.S. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue . Voters in more than one-third of the country enjoy some form of an Election Day holiday, according to RepresentUs. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. [10][11]] But this arrangement began to raise concerns as travel and communication improved in the 19th century: Results from states that voted earlier could sway the outcome in states that voted later. [1] The decision was made taking into account farmers, a large portion of the voting constituency at the time, who would not have been able to travel to polling places in winter months or during planting or harvest times. Of these countries, 27 hold their national elections on a weekend. ], ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Election Day National Holiday Top 3 Pros and Cons. For rest of the festival holidays the declaration . Corrections? There are some exceptions; as Wednesday was not covered by the available dates, the Netherlands holds elections on Thursday, while Denmark holds elections on Sunday. WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Election Day should be a holiday for workers in the United States, President Joe Biden said on Thursday. But in many other countries, the government automatically registers voters and holds elections on days that are weekend days or national holidays. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. a list of voting rights provisions he would support. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? Make election day a national holiday : r/WhitePeopleTwitter - reddit During the 2016 presidential election, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted. Even people youd expect to know, like politicians, have been stumped by this very question. Election Day as a holiday is something that exists in other countries, but not in most places in the U.S. It's an issue that comes up a lot, but never really gets much serious public debate. In 2007, the country held the world's first general Internet election. Making Election Day a holiday would not necessarily involve adding a new holiday, which employers might resistparticularly following the addition of Juneteenth as a national holiday last week. In Switzerland, only one canton (or member state) requires voting; it is voluntary all other cantons of the country. Sundays are the most common day for elections, but this is less true in the Anglosphere; Saturdays are used in New Zealand and Australia, and weekdays for the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Washington's Birthday Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Constitution Day Election Day Veterans Day Bill of Rights Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on third Monday of January each year, near the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. At the top of his list: making Election Day a national holiday. 12, 2019, Ceylan Pumphrey, "Do Businesses Have to Give Federal Holidays Like Presidents Day Off?, blogs.findlaw.com, Feb. 14, 2018, Department of Labor, "Holiday Pay, dol.gov (accessed Sep. 23, 2019), Peggy Emch, "Is Holiday Pay Required by Law?, timesheets.com, 2013, Fast Casual, "Study: Why Hourly Workers Forced to Work Multiple Jobs, fastcasual.com, Apr. However, rules, dates and deadlines vary by state, which can be confusing to some voters. This article was published more than10 years ago. Today in my country it is a national holiday as we celebrate the day Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. [20][21][22] A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off for a national holiday. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. With those options early in-person voting and more voter awareness on how to vote by mail voter turnout appears to be trending upward. In India, for example, a polling place is required within two kilometers (about a mile) of every single person in the country of 1.4 billion. An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation.Many countries commemorate their independence from a colonial empire.. Not all countries mark independence as a national holiday. [15] A survey showed that US adults would rather have a federal holiday on Election Day than on Christmas Eve, the Friday after Thanksgiving, or St. Patricks day. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election Ralph Northam signed into law a measure that, among other things, makes Election Day a state holiday in the commonwealth. "Election day should be a national holiday" is a claim of policy because we are discussing a policy which searches a solution for the presented argument. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off List two to three ways. Unlike Singapore, South Korea and Israel, Canada has not declared election days as public holidays. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? As old as all of these societies are, their senses of national identity are commemorated by remarkably recent events. Issues also arise when a persons polling place is far from their workplace or when there are long lines to vote during peak times like in the morning before work or in the evening after work. [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. 3. Is Election Day a federal holiday? Here's what is open, closed Tuesday When turnout is high, it becomes increasingly fruitless for politicians to play to their base in ways that allow a vocal minority to rule, which is how many American leaders currently operate. Virginia joined these states in April this year. America is walking the knifes edge between maintaining and losing democracy. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? We're familiar with how voting works in the U.S.when we vote, how we vote, who we vote forbut do you know what voting is like in other countries around the world? Should election day be made a national holiday? But none of those states have considerably high turnout compared to those where it isn't a holiday. To look through the stats for voter turnout for other countries, you can visit the website for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and explore the data. The bill has no cosponsors, but the concept was supported by every 2020 Democratic candidate for president, excluding Mike Bloomberg and now-nominee Joe Biden. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Image 2. According to the country's website detailing their "digital society," online voting has soared from 1.9% in 2005 to 30.5% in 2015. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. US voter turnout trails most developed countries. Hailey said the country needs a "cultural shift" to prioritize voting. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - Homepage | Morningside Center for That's true, although the separate "National Day of Commemoration" occurs on the anniversary of the truce ending the Irish war of independence. Explain your answers. Establishing Election Day as a holiday, taken together with the pending federal voting rights reforms, would go a long way towards stabilizing democracy and ensuring basic democratic rights. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Without this simple step toward turning out as many Americans as possible to vote, any reform will be incomplete. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. Many Americans know that Election Day is a Tuesday, but few know why. In 2018, a Pewstudy found that 65% of Americans favored making Election Day a national holiday. [14][35] In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbeques nationwide, resulting in turnout rates around 90%. It worked. Some countries, about 27 of them, make voting compulsory. "Election Day should be a national holiday so that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Sanders' website reads. For more on the debate about making election day a national holiday, visit ProCon.org. Because the impact of a federal holiday is far-reaching, many states and workplaces would likely follow suit. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off Other politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday.However, some countries, or regions within a country, which hold elections on a weekday declare election day a public holiday. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the other side of the issue now helps you better argue your position. A large Democratic voting rights bill that would have made Election Day a national holiday collapsed in the Senate this year when two senators refused to join their own party in changing. But while . In the 2016 election, only 56% of voting-age Americans cast their ballots. In fact, these voters may be more likely to have to work as a result of a federal election holiday, where they may have had time off previously on a random Tuesday in November. 2) Most other countries are shaped by relatively recent revolutions. But it is not a federal holiday. Is Election Day a federal holiday? ", "An overall look at Vietnam's election law", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Election_day&oldid=1136894393. So, since this effort does not receive bipartisan support, it is difficult to enact.. In the United States, it varies from state to state and even county to county, so the idea that one entire country might use the same voting method is actually pretty unique to Americans! And some countries, like Australia, require people to vote by subjecting those who don't to a minor fine equivalent to a traffic ticket. With just about six in 10 voters turning out to vote in the U.S., some civil rights advocates are arguing that it's about time to give Americans the day off to vote. Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. Think of things such as voter ID laws, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the Electoral College. Estonia is the only country to fully adopt online voting, but other countries, such as Australia, Canada, and Norway, have looked into pursuing it as an option in the future. Should Election Day be a national holiday? Mail-in voting starts 1 month before polls open. According to Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus, Australia adopted compulsory voting in 1924 after turnout there dropped to less than 60 percent in 1922. "I'm not a fan," said Eddie Perez, an election administration and election technology expert at the Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute. Election dates are determined by the General Elections Commission (Indonesian: Typically on a Friday, but precise date set by, Municipal, provincial, and regional elections take place on a Sunday, as do elections for the. Election day should be a national holidayCommentary - CNBC Rather than make it a national holiday where inevitably people will still have to work, change election day to election week. ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria's election commission announced the first results late Sunday from the country's closely watched presidential election, but it could days . Interestingly, 27 of the 36 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (made up largely of advanced democracies) conduct their national elections on the weekend. Most recently, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont proposed a bill to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday, which sits before a special committee. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 In 1845, when Congress established a national election day, it had to be a Tuesday because farmers went to church on Sunday, went to market on Wednesday, and may have needed a day, Monday, to get to their polling place, Gil Troy an American presidential historian and McGill University professor told HuffPost.