Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. [1], Over time, voting rights expanded from only white, male landowners age 21 and older to include women and people of color, as well as citizens age 18 and up, resulting in a dramatic increase in the voting-eligible population and a shift in voter demographics. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. Sweden came second with 82.6%. Given this, an Election Day holiday would remove a significant barrier to participation for relatively well-to-do potential voters while doing little to make voting easier for a significant. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters. It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials. Canada's turnout is about the same as the United States', with an average of 68%, and though one canton in Switzerland has a compulsory voting law, for the country as a whole turnout is around 49%, one of the lowest rates in OECD countries. He concluded that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout. [34], Automatic voter registration, by contrast, could register an additional 22 million people and create 7.9 million new voters nationwide within a year. Read more: The evolution of American voting rights in 242 years shows how far we've come and how far we still have to go. It would take an act of Congress to make Election Day a national holiday, and there is currently a bill proposing to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday before a special committee. The ideal solution is simple: Congress should make Election Day a national holiday, or move Election Day to the weekend. And even a number of the blue countries, such as Australia and Canada, are actually the product of colonialism. An additional day off school would prove to be problematic for individuals who may not have other readily accessible forms of childcare. [24], People who have already suffered significant disenfranchisement, such as women and people of color, are more likely to be working those low-income jobs that wouldnt get the time off to vote even on a national holiday. Why isn't Election Day a national holiday in the US? - KHOU Others say a holiday would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers and corporations should have better policies for voting time off. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Election officials in various states have predicted historic levels of turnout in 2020, with a chance to reach the highest ever. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election Traditionally on weekends. 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. Election results only announced for 1 of Nigeria's 36 states The Evolution of American Voting Rights in 242 Years Shows How Far Weve Come -- and How Far We Still Have to Go, businessinsider.com, Sep. 24, 2019, University of Houston Digital History, "Agriculture, digitalhistory.uh.edu (accessed Sep. 24, 2019), USDA, "Ag and Food Sectors and the Economy, ers.usda.gov, Sep. 20, 2019, Legal Information Institute, "5 U.S. Code 6103.
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countries where election day is a national holiday