this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2024
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Is it time to make Election Day a federal holiday? 🗳️ Some say it would boost voter turnout and align the U.S. with other democracies, while others argue it could create challenges for hourly workers and cost millions. Dive into the debate over whether a federal voting holiday is the best way to strengthen democracy or if there are better solutions. Check out the full breakdown!

https://ace-usa.org/blog/research/research-votingrights/should-election-day-become-a-federal-holiday-weighing-the-benefits-and-drawbacks/

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[–] goferking0@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Would rather just have voting being more than 1 day. Make it a week plus mail in voting.

Have enough states screwing around with voting locations to limit it to just a day

[–] GlendatheGayWitch@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I was surprised to learn that there are still states where you can only vote one day. California and Texas have allowed early voting for over 40 years and it's so easy to vote. Texas even passed a law requiring polls to be open at least 9 hours the first week of voting and at least 12 hours the second week and final day of voting. I've only waited in line twice and the longest I've waited was 10 minutes.

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[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 months ago

Presidential elections occur on leap years where we just plain add an additional day to the year on our calendar. This isn't as complex an issue as the article wants it to seem.

[–] albatross9163@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

It should be

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MudMan@fedia.io 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Or, you know, at least make it happen on a weekend, like normal countries do. The whole thing is such a weird quirk among so many other weird quirks that serve no purpose.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (3 children)

That doesn't solve for people who work irregular shifts and don't get weekends off, but may not have access to early or mail-in voting (which is where Republicans will take their insane restrictions if a holiday is made).

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[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

We always have elections on a Sunday (you go to your assigned voting place, usually a school) and there's I think two week period where you can vote in (official voting places placed in) libraries, malls, all kinds of places and you can pick whichever so there's ample opportunity for everyone. I think mail-in system where you can vote at home and deliver the vote by mail is just for those who are abroad. There's also the possibility of having people visit you at home to facilitate voting, meant for those who can't move.

[–] ConstantPain@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Here in Brazil elections are always on Sunday, vote is mandatory and everybody vote the same day. By 8pm all votes are counted and the result is known.

I always vote after lunch and it's always empty. Because the vote is electronic, it's very fast. I get there (we usually vote at schools too), show my photo ID (I use the ID app on my phone), use my fingerprint to unlock the voting machine, type the numbers and confirm, they return my phone and give a coupon to prove I voted and then I go eat a meat pastel and ice cream.

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[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Let's just swap from Thanksgiving (a holiday about racism and genocide) to Election Day. So there's no net cost. Just swapping from one day to another.

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[–] Stern@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

Unless they're going to do something like require octuple pay for anyone working on an election day, which in turn would fuck up the financial math of any business thinking about opening that day, making it a holiday won't fix anything.

Mandate vote by mail federally. While your at it, copy Mexicos voter ID system and give everyone free voter ID's.

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago

Doesn't matter either way as the only people guaranteed off on federal holidays are government employees.

[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 4 points 2 months ago

Shithole country. Honestly, together with the issues like voter roll purging and winner takes it all. How can you take this "pro/con" discussion even seriously?

The real question should be why the US is so undemocratic, what the forces are that drive this minority rule and prevent a more free and open society.

[–] PedroMaldonado@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Yes it should be a holiday! Why are we even talking about this?

[–] Freefall@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Christmas doesn't create challenges for hourly workers, and noone that matters cares if it costs companies millions.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago

There is zero reason not to have more holidays.

[–] Newstart@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Here in Canada All employees who are Canadian citizens and 18 years of age or older are entitled to have three consecutive hours off on Election Day to vote. Voting hours in the Eastern time zone are from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If an employee’s hours of work do not allow for three consecutive hours off within this period, the employer must give them sufficient time off to meet the requirement of three consecutive hours.

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