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/

  • BertramDitore@lemm.ee
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    1 month ago

    There were some good stats in there, but this wasn’t anything groundbreaking. I’m totally in favor of making Election Day a federal holiday, it’s arguably the most important day for the continuance of our democracy after all. BUT any action must take into account the fact that so many Americans don’t get federal holidays off, and employers can’t be forced to give them that time off. So there would have to be a fund or subsidy available to employers to continue paying their workers on this new day off. It should also be a kind of superholiday so even private employers are forced to observe it.

    This, and getting rid of the electoral college should be a priority once we’ve soundly defeated the orange turd and can take a couple breaths.

    • CaptainPedantic@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Mail in voting across the board could be better than a federal holiday. In Washington, I get everything I need to vote in the mail: a ballot, a voter’s guide, a postage paid envelope. I literally don’t have to wear pants to vote. I can take a week to make a decision about something before I wander over to the nearest mailbox to drop off my ballot.

      Never having done it, voting in person sounds awful.

      • BertramDitore@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        Yeah, this is actually a better solution. There’s no legitimate non-partisan reason I can think of for why anyone would be against universal mail in voting.

        Same in California, and I definitely need that extra time to review the ballot and figure out how I’m voting on ballot measures and for which local officials. The ballot is huge and relatively complicated, so I can’t imagine doing that in person either.

      • zeekaran@sopuli.xyz
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        1 month ago

        Agreed to your last statement. I have only ever voted by mail in ballot and anything else seems inhumane.