Voting is a privilege that not enough Americans realize they have. Voter turnout for the 2016 Presidential Election was only 54.7%. With just over half of our nation heading to the polls come Election Day, the change to make Election Day a national holiday must be implemented in order to not only increase voter participation, but also to ingrain the very concept of democracy into the American people.
Voter turnout for congressional elections is even lower than general elections. On average, only 40% of eligible voters vote in their congressional elections, with some districts experiencing voter turnout as low as 26%. Some people simply don’t care about voting, but others find themselves unable to vote on Election Day thanks to restrictions like work and business.
The United States continues to fall behind other developed countries when it comes to voter turnout. According to Pew Research, 55.7% of the voting-age population voted in 2016. This number is substantially lower than other developed countries. In fact, a survey found that the United States ranked 139 out of 172 countries when it comes to voter turnout. Many of the countries ranked above the United States are industrialized nations such as South Korea, Germany, and France.
Even though the countries that outdo the United States when it comes to voter participation have different methods of electing officials, many nations hold one thing in common: they have the day off on Election Day. Countries like France, Germany, and India all recognize Election Day as a national holiday or hold elections on the weekend in order to increase voter turnout.
Not only would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout among Americans, which is something that politicians and citizens in general complain about often, but it would also ignite a more patriotic spirit amongst the American people. When people do not need to worry about going into work on Election Day, they are both more apt to vote and more informed about voting by not having to worry about other work-related commitments on Election Day. Beau C. Tremitiere, editor-in-chief of the Northwestern University Law Review puts in well:
“The demands of school and work schedules keep millions of Americans, especially those with children or long commutes, from ever getting to their polling stations. Countless other students and workers who do manage to cast their ballots would love to be even more involved in the process — whether by driving elderly neighbors to the polls, helping illiterate voters understand their ballots, or serving as a poll watcher to deter foul play — but can’t afford to skip class or take off a shift.”
As an informed American who is extremely excited to vote for the first time in the 2018 Midterm Elections, I am disappointed that a country which places so much importance on democratic ideals falls so short when it comes to voter turnout. Voting is a right that not everyone possesses across the world. Making Election Day a national holiday would bring many more people to the polls while at the same time showing off the values that the United States stands for regarding democracy.
Fred Gohlke says
Dear Mr. Falvo,
It is exciting to see a thoughtful young person, willing and anxious to help improve the political system in the United States. I’m an old man, and have been working toward the same end for many years.
I hope, as you gain experience, you get greater insight into the working of our current system. Equating voting and democracy is a serious error. Voting is not democratic unless the people decide the candidates for public office and the issues on which they vote.
Voting for individuals chosen by political parties, whose only interest is the aggregation of power, is profoundly undemocratic. It is a top-down arrangment that lets those who control the parties control the government. The 2016 Presidential Election should be an eye-opener in that regard.
Partisan politics disenfranchises non-partisans. You mentioned Pew Research. Did you happen to notice the percentage of voters they classify as “leaners”? These are voters who could not vote for the person they thought most qualified. Their only option was to vote for one of the party candidates. It’s no wonder so few people vote. Choosing the lesser of two evils is still evil.
Party-based systems, like ours, are divisive instruments that inspire confrontation among voters instead of helping to find constructive solutions to common problems. They aid egocentric power-seekers at the expense of the people. Partisan politics lies at the heart of the failure of so-called ‘democracy’, but devising a practical political process that does not rely on partisanship is a non-trivial challenge.
Democracy – government by the people – is a bottom-up process. In a true democracy, everyone must be allowed (but not compelled) to participate in the political process, to the full extent of each individual’s desire and ability. The people must have a way to decide, among themselves, the issues they want addressed and the people they think best able to resolve them.
Creating such an environment will take thought, time and effort. The existing system is entrenched, but political systems evolve. Ours will improve as thoughful people like yourself conceive incremental changes and work for their adoption in small communities where they can mature and spread.
Please don’t be offended because my perspective differs from yours. We grow by considering alternatives and integrating those bits and pieces that improve our vision. You and your thoughtful approach are vital. My term will end within a few years. You bring youth and freshness to a vital undertaking.
Fred Gohlke
MITCH STERNBERG says
Hey Richard,
I enjoyed and appreciate this article. What is the process for Congress to declare a National Holiday- e.g. what committees in the Senate and House initiate the hearings, and then must be signed the President to be made into law? I’m coming from a Democratic perspective. FYI, The Blue Point Brewing Company (based in Long Island, NY) promoted, via their beer (signed beer cans) that congress make Election Day a federal holiday.