Should Election Day Become A Federal Holiday? Weighing The Benefits And Drawbacks - eviltoast

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/

  • WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    The problem with that is that it incentivizes people who are uninformed about politics to vote randomly for a day off. Our issue is not that everyone needs to vote, but that everyone who chooses to is able to and not hindered by a company.

    If they want to incentivize people to get informed and get involved, then they should abolish the electoral college so people will feel like their votes count in states where they are a minority. Reinstating voting rights for felons would also get people motivated, because people who have been burned by the system may want to work to change it.

    Even with all that, there will be people who do not care, do not learn, and will not want to vote, and they should be given that option. They have deemed themselves unqualified, and that should be believed.

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      It’s perfectly legal to turn in a blank ballot. When there’s an uncontested candidate running for office in my area that I do not support our I don’t know the difference between the candidates I simply don’t select a candidate for that position while voting for the candidates and issues I do understand.

      • WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 months ago

        Yes, but if someone intends not to vote at all, why waste their time and make lines longer by having them turn in a totally blank ballot?

        • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          If inconveniencing a hundred thousand lazy assholes into spending 5 minutes turning in a blank ballot is the cost of getting thousands of other people to engage in the political process I think that’s pretty cheap.

          Especially if we do it annually and tie it to local elections. I’m a government employee and I’ve seen local elections with high stakes affecting a hundred thousand people get 50 votes total.