messageif this tips i’ll totally be a poll watcher….i’ve always wanted to do that but i only have time in the day to show up & vote
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Peter Zelchenko replied on Jun 11, 2008I take off every Election Day anyway to participate in one way or another. But a holiday is a great idea.
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Joe Harrow replied on Jun 11, 2008
Apparently 14 states already have some version of this, just making it more apparent that this should be a national law. In 2005 Rep. Joe Parisi (D-Madison) was pushing for a state law in Wisconsin for this. I’m sure there are a lot of other elected officials who are behind this or will get behind this will a little bit of nagging.
Already schools in several states close because they are used as polling stations. How crazy is it that students who don’t vote get off and their parents don’t?!
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Stephanie Ross replied on Jul 10, 2008
I think it’s time we start to focus on our “voice” as a country. This is a great idea!
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Eddie Marmol replied on Jul 26, 2008
I really want to side with such a rebellious, controversial campaign, but really need to point out that putting the entire country on holiday would have a seriously detrimental impact on the economy and day-to-day commerce. A more rational approach
(and feasible) would be to create nationally recognized paid-breaks for the purpose of voting which could entice more people, in general, to exercise their voting priviledge. Companies could be required to distribute non-partisan literature about the voting process weeks in advance in order to reduce registration frustrations, as well!I know this is a bit of a downer, but I’m going to join this movement, anyway, with the hopes that some of these and other more moderate suggestions become a greater topic of importance and influence.
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Joe Harrow replied on Jul 29, 2008
@ Eddie:
I don’t think this has to really hurt the economy that much. One idea I’ve read (endorsed by veterans) is to have this day off instead of Memorial Day. The logic is that it is a much better honoring of those who died for this country to use the day to benefit the country and improve our democracy than for a drunken 3-day weekend.
That said, I think your idea is a good one, and if this is what happened after the dust settled I would be happy. A lot of states that have laws for time off on election day are for certain amounts of time off, not necessarily the whole day (see my first comment on this campaign). I think the point of this campaign is to make our point and shake up the system just enough that it needs to be rethought; that ideas like this get a hearing.
On a side note, I think Tuesday is better than, say, moving Election Day to a weekend because it makes it stand out as a day off, in the middle of the week, for voting. Not a 3-day weekend, or a travel weekend, but a single day with a specific purpose.
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Eddie Marmol replied on Jul 29, 2008
Believe you me, I couldn’t agree more about the concept of radical expression for change with the objective intent of moderate alterations. Tuesday voting is indeed requisite to serve the purpose. All of our debate isn’t a challenge w/in this organization; it is merely the healthy exchange of ideas that gives people insight into the program as well as its intent. Thanks for exercising your freedoms, comrade!
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Ed replied on Sep 22, 2008
I totally agree with the fact that Election Day should be a national state & federal holiday in every state and colony of our union. The only people who should be working, are the Election Commission, their staff, and volunteers. For all the talk of patriotism, “country first”, and responsibility for our great nation, there is no greater act than fulfilling your privledge to select your government representatives, or to show the importance of that act to the youth of America… or even, to have the opportunity to consciously object from it all without having other grounds for excuse.
However, I think several people here, and in many other forums, have expressed many issues that have arise and threaten to keep the process less than equitable. But there are some pretty common sense steps that I believe can be taken to make it as fair as possible…
Firstly, you have to acknowledge, that there are some employment sectors of our great country, that regardless of whether it’s a holiday or not, they still will need to go to work. Many of these are service jobs, some critical (police, fire, etc.), and some not-so-much (gas stations, food service/groceries, etc.).
Although I am very hesitant to restrict employers or business in any unreasonable way, I think it should be the responsibility of an employer who does not give their employee reasonable time to vote in their appropriate polling location, without penalty from their compensation, to provide an avenue to vote in some other fashion (absentee ballot, for example), where early voting is not available, or offered at times that are appropriate within the compensated schedule.
And this issue holds true regardless of the day on which an election is held. I’ve seen the suggestions of moving the election to a weekend. But, this is still relevant on weekend day. Oh, and people will be less likely to vote on a weekend day, because most people have plans on weekends. It’s true.Secondly, I think there is a major issue with the organization of state voting and voter registration laws from state to state. It’s interesting how one person in one state is subject to a specific set of restrictions, on the time, date, and place that their vote is to be cast, while in another state, the rules that apply, are completely different. Yet in the end, those two people are supposed to carry the same weight as equal votes? I doubt that to be the case.
For the majority of state issues, due to each state’s individual characteristics and special needs in specific areas, I am greatly in favor of state autonomy. But in such an important area as equality in the selection of a representative of the nation, that stands for the country and all of its citizens (more or less) equally, I think there needs to be a more uniform process of voter selection, and vote tallying/accumulation, and definitely certification of elections.
I don’t understand why, on an issue such as voting, where the nation (and some states in particular) has been so shamed and embarrassed before, the national politicians can’t rally for a more uniform and transparent process for voting, from start to finish. I understand that everyone wants to be in control somewhere, at sometime, but give me a break. Doesn’t it just get to the point where everyone is running around like a chicken with their head cut off, trying to get something in somewhere, by someone? But I digress…
I did want to point out though the direction of “independent” state election commissions by partisan politicians. Does anyone know of state election commissions that are mandated to be bipartisan, with bipartisan verification of election results? I think this might do wonders for transparency in the outcomes of elections.Anyway… I don’t know if I strayed a little off topic for this campaign.. which I totally support. But I seriously think more than just taking a day off of work, er should all contact our state and US senators & representatives, and tell them that we want a state & national holiday for election day, and why… that might get things going.
