Why Election Day Should Be A National Holiday In America
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Why Election Day Should Be A National Holiday In America

Compared to other countries, the U.S. is behind most countries when it comes to voter turnout.

369
Why Election Day Should Be A National Holiday In America
Flickr

On average, only 50-60 percent of Americans vote during the presidential election. That’s about half of the country whose voices could be getting heard but aren't. In congressional elections, only 40% of the eligible voters vote -- and that’s just the national average. Some districts could only get as much as 26% of their voters to participate during the congressional election.

In states like my own, we have mail-in ballots that make the voting process a hell of a lot easier. With the mail-in system, we can use our own time to fill out our ballot at home and then drop it off at a local drop box. Pretty easy. In some states where they don’t have mail-in ballots, voting can take a lot of time out of the day. Election Day is always the first Tuesday after November 1st. A lot of people go to work, or they’re in school during the weekday. As a holiday, that means several millions of people would have the day off from work or school, making it way easier for people to use the day to do what we’re supposed to do: vote.

As for the rest of the world, the U.S. voter turnout falls behind most countries like Belgium, South Korea, and Sweden, ranking us 139 out of 172 countries. The countries ahead of the U.S. are also countries similar to us: industrialized and economically developed democratic nations. Although each country differs in registration and voting processes, they all have one thing in common: high voter turnout rates. These countries, including other countries such as France, Germany, and India, also have the day off as a holiday or hold elections on the weekend. It’s simple and it’s low-cost.

People would be more excited about voting, too. As a holiday, it’s won’t be looked at as just another day as it brings importance to the cause. I've seen a couple videos online of countries around the world on Election Day, and let me tell y'all: it looks fun and exciting. People were out on the streets literally celebrating, while here in America, people really aren't excited for it (as you can see by our turnout rates). Most people don’t vote for a variety of reasons, but a common reason is simply because they don’t care or think their voice is not being heard -- but really, voting is how you make change happen. This goes for any election when I say this, but you cannot complain about the way things are going, whether it’s at the national or local level, if you don’t vote. Your voice is important and can and will be heard if you vote.

Obviously, it would be impossible to get 100 percent of all of eligible-age citizens in the U.S. to vote. There are many other reasons why we have such low voter turnout rates in the U.S. There’s also arguably a lot of flaws in the registration and voting process that also might affect voter turnout rates. But for now, we have to start somewhere, and that first thing is making Election Day a federal holiday.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71393
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133461
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments