2 of 26

Yes

Write now Article Tools

The United States falls behind nearly all nations in voter turnout. This reason could be contributed greatly to the complacency of our citizens as a whole. We have grown accustomed to our lifestyles and comfortable in our bubbles. In November of 2008, nearly 57% of our voting age population voted in the presidential election. Granted this was the largest turnout our country has seen since 1968, but we still have a long way to go.

Compare our numbers to Australia, who generally has over 95% turnout in all elections (voting is mandatory in Australia), and the United Kingdom who generally enjoys 70%+ turnout numbers.

Every year millions of Americans who would like to vote, cannot do so because they do not want to miss work or other commitments. A single parent may find it difficult to find time to vote when he/she may work two jobs, pick up the kids from school, all the while trying to have dinner on the table at a reasonable hour.

I believe voting should be a right and not a challenge. According to the US Census Bureau (reported by fairvote.org) in 2000, over 20 percent of eligible non-voters did not vote due to scheduling conflicts or inconvenient voting procedures. Granted many reforms have made it easier to vote in the USA. Many states have taken the initiative to allow people to vote early, often up to a week in advance of an election.

California, for example, allows 'all' voters (not just elderly or military) to vote via absentee ballot. These new opportunities, coupled with a historic election, have likely helped to increase turnout recently in US elections. However, much can still be done to make voting a rewarding duty, rather than a burdensome possibility.

Making Election Day a national holiday would likely not bring our voter turnout to over 90% like Australia's, but it would definitely make a huge impact. Not only would it be a great way to help people schedule-in voting, it would also put more focus and attention on Election Day. Having the nation take Election Day off from work has the potential to be an exciting event.

Imagine, neighbors coming together for a barbeque after everyone has voted, closing out the night watching election returns on their televisions. This would do a lot for the common good. Election Day should not only be a day to cast our ballots for major elections, it should be a day in which we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy as a country.

Our country has always had a policy of encouraging (even forcing) democracy down the throats of others. But we do not set a very good example. Our representative Democratic-Republic country should be leading by example when it comes to Election Day. Making Election Day a national holiday would only show our commitment to making voting a right, not a challenge.

Learn more about this author, Chris Mcleod.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should Election Day be a national holiday??
We want to hear your view. Write now!