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/

  • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    The downside is it probably won’t significantly increase voter turnout. People hate voting negative of long lines. Giving everyone the same day off to vote would just make it that much worse.

    Very few people can honestly say that the lack of a voter holiday is the reason they don’t vote.

    I live in Texas, where voting is famously difficult, but even I have 5 separate locations whets I can vote 7 days a week during early voting. The 21st through the 27th available times are Monday through Friday 8-5, Saturday 7-7, and Sunday is 9-3. The 28th thriving the first is 7-7.

    During those time periods it’s rare to have a line at all, and there’s a ton of groups that will take you to the polling station if you don’t have transportation.

    If someone is too lazy to take 10 minutes to vote during early voting, giving them a day off on election day won’t change their behavior.

    If the goal is to just give people another day off, that’s fine. Just say that. If the goal is to get people to vote, you should tie the benefit to voting.