To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether Election Day should be a national holiday, go to ProCon.org.
Election Day in the United States has occurred on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ever since President John Tyler signed an 1845 law establishing a specific voting day for the entire country. The decision was made taking into account farmers, a large portion of the voting constituency at the time, who would not have been able to travel to polling places in winter months or during planting or harvest times. Sundays were for rest and worship, and on Wednesdays farmers typically sold their crops at the market, making Tuesdays the best day of the week.
Over time, voting rights expanded from only white, male landowners age 21 and older to include women and people of color, as well as citizens age 18 and up, resulting in a dramatic increase in the voting-eligible population and a shift in voter demographics. In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related.
The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. A handful of states have made election day a state holiday, including New York, Hawaii, Kentucky, and, in Apr. 2020, Virginia.
PRO
- Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote.
- Making Election Day a national holiday would turn voting into a celebration of democracy.
- Making weekday elections a national holiday is a popular idea that would align the US with other countries.
CON
- Making Election Day a national holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers.
- Changing state laws and individual companies’ policies would be more effective ways to help people vote.
- Other solutions would more reliably increase voter turnout than a national holiday.
This article was published on October 1, 2020, at Britannica’s ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source.