countries where election day is a national holiday

Portugal celebrates the 1580 death of celebrated national poet Luis de Camoes, Spain celebrates Columbus Day (yes, the holiday is a little controversial there as well, although not as much as in the U.S.), the Netherlands celebrates the queen's birthday but it still use her mother's birthday for the date and, in Greenland, the celebrate the longest day of the year. Most National Days are fixed, exceptions to this are shown below. Monday in early September. Election Day as a holiday is something that exists in other countries, but not in most places in the U.S. It's an issue that comes up a lot, but never really gets much serious public debate. Fourth Sunday of October immediately before the end of the current mandates. Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. Lists national days around the world by country or date. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. Yet, few of us, especially those who have worked on Capitol Hill, harbor . These changes would send the message that voting is not a privilege to be bought with job security and time to spare, but rather an essential responsibility every person ought to undertake. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. [26] Caravanas are joyful, noisy parades of cars festooned with flags and other decorations that stream through Puerto Ricos streets ahead of an election and are credited with the islands over 80% voter turnout. Election day - Wikipedia National Days around the world | Office Holidays History of Election Day ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria's election commission announced the first results late Sunday from the country's closely watched presidential election, but it could days . Of these countries, 27 hold their national elections on a weekend. Read more: The evolution of American voting rights in 242 years shows how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Should the United States use the Electoral College in presidential elections? Make Election Day a national holiday - Brookings More people would vote if they had more time to cast their ballots Furthermore, celebrating our democracy publicly would send the message that we value each others citizenship as much as we value honoring past presidents. [13], Donald Green, PhD, Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, found that nonpartisan community parties celebrating Election Day in 2005, 2006, and 2016 increased voter participation between 2.6 percentage points and about 4 percentage points. Voting Around the World - Home | CultureReady [1] 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. American election laws have been reformed before with minimal impact on voter turnout which remains low compared to other democracies around the world. Exact date set by the. Passing voting rights reform will be a crucial component of this response, as would making Election Day a national holiday. In some states where they don't have mail-in ballots, voting can take a lot of time out of the day. But this arrangement began to raise concerns as travel and communication improved in the 19th century: Results from states that voted earlier could sway the outcome in states that voted later. Keep in mind that in the mid-1800s, the U.S. was largely an agricultural society. A 2018 Pew survey found that the majority of Americans (65%) would be in favor of turning Election Day into a national holiday that includes 71% of Democratic-leaning voters and 59% of Republican-leaning voters. Mr. CHRISTENSEN: One of the biggest countries that uses compulsory voting is Australia. A National Day is a date for a country to celebrate its nationhood. In theory, it seems that any move that would make it easier for Americans to vote would increase participation. Currently, 22 countries around the world have mandatory voting, and ten of those countries enforce the policy, including Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Peru, and Switzerland. Litigation pending before the Supreme Court this term in Brnovich v. DNC, however, threatens to undermine this rule. I'll look into this some more and may change it on the map. The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States. That means the stock market will be open, and so will. Twenty-seven of the 36 member countries, hold their elections on the weekend. Indigenous Peoples Day is a local and state holiday in some parts of the country usually held on Columbus Day that celebrates the cultures of Native Americans. All federal elections take place the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. With Juneteenth now a national holiday, could Election Day and Most others are not so recent, but still not so old: Taiwan's, for example, goes back to a 1911 uprising. When turnout is high, it becomes increasingly fruitless for politicians to play to their base in ways that allow a vocal minority to rule, which is how many American leaders currently operate. On U.S. Election Day, A Look At How Others Vote : NPR Why or why not? Additionally, many of these individuals rely on school days as childcare for their children. The U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. "Election day should be a national holiday" is a claim of policy because we are discussing a policy which searches a solution for the presented argument. So far this year, hundreds of bills have been introduced that could have the effect of suppressing peoples right to vote. But it is not a federal holiday. [27], Companies including Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Patagonia, and Walmart have joined Make Time to Vote campaign, which encourages employers to provide paid time off, schedule no meetings on Election Day, and give information on mail-in ballots and early voting. There is no fixed election day for general elections, although since 1986 every general election has been held on Sunday. Establishing Election Day as a holiday, taken together with the pending federal voting rights reforms, would go a long way towards stabilizing democracy and ensuring basic democratic rights. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of the eligible voting population vast a vote; this year, a staggering 47.5%participated in the midterms, compared to 37% in 2014 and 41% in 2010, the years of other midterm elections. As Congress continues to grapple with voting rights legislation this week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has used his considerable influence as the Senates key swing vote to set the terms of the debate. Is Election Day a federal holiday? | The US Sun Whether election day should be made a national holiday is debated. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Election Day should be a national holiday - The GW Hatchet Read More, Election Day is a holiday in Puerto Rico. Usually Wednesday. Should Election Day Be a Holiday? - Homepage | Morningside Center for - Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor, - Gil Troy, American presidential historian, Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party traditionally it is believed to help the Democrats at the, Joaquin Corbalan / EyeEm via Getty Images, as travel and communication improved in the 19th century, being too busy or having a conflicting schedule, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, substantially increase the cost of running elections, move that would make it easier for Americans to vote, The types of workers least likely to reap the benefits. There are many ways to boost voter turnout expanding early voting, automatically registering voters, and improving civic education programs . Election dates are determined by the General Elections Commission (Indonesian: Typically on a Friday, but precise date set by, Municipal, provincial, and regional elections take place on a Sunday, as do elections for the. Election results only announced for 1 of Nigeria's 36 states Virginia joined these states in April this year. Meanwhile, in Macedonia this past September, voters chose to stay away from the polls because of the proposed name change for the country. For example, in Ecuador, only literate citizens between 18 and 65 are required to vote; those over 65 or who are not literateare not required. He concluded that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout. [34], Automatic voter registration, by contrast, could register an additional 22 million people and create 7.9 million new voters nationwide within a year. In-person polls open Sunday at 12:01am, close Saturday at 11:59pm. For other uses, see. In the United States, it varies from state to state and even county to county, so the idea that one entire country might use the same voting method is actually pretty unique to Americans! Change often comes slowly, subtly. "We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. With just about six in 10 voters turning out to vote in the U.S., some civil rights advocates are arguing that it's about time to give Americans the day off to vote. In an interview published Thursday, President Obama endorsed the idea of holding U.S. federal elections on weekends or national holidays. With those options early in-person voting and more voter awareness on how to vote by mail voter turnout appears to be trending upward. Election Day in the United States is the annual day for general elections of federal public officials.It is statutorily set by the U.S. government as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November", i.e. Plus, some experts say moving to weekend voting could substantially increase the cost of running elections. And in Australia, there is a fine. Like Perez, Becker thinks giving voters more time and opportunity to vote is the best approach. It is set by statute as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November.". Here is the relevant passage from Acts 28: This article is about the general term "election day" worldwide. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Concentrating voters into a single day risks congesting polling places, even more so than some already are. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Take, for example, Bhutan, which every celebrates the anniversary of Ugyen Wangchuck's 1907 election as the nation's first hereditary king (yes, you read that correctly), but not its 1949 independence. Election Day in USA in 2023 | Office Holidays The founding fathers at first only granted white, male property owners the right to vote, so the expansion of voting rights has taken some time. In Australia, all citizens of age to vote are required, and if they fail to do so, they face fines. That too is a reminder as to how new many of the ideas from that century, such as full enfranchisement and national self-determination, really are. It was created in 1992,. Voter turnout in the U.S. is generally quite low, trailing behind that of other developed democracies around the world, according to another Pew study. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. Traditionally on weekends. Theyare still considerably higher than in the United States, which typically sees about 65% on average turn out to vote for major elections. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. On Sunday, Virginia Democratic Gov. However, for the most part, most countries vote in person at the voting booth, and while countries may alter the length of election periods andthe equipment used in voting from election to election, it still tends to have many of the same features. Other countries may only require it of certain people, and otherwise make it voluntary for others. Lessons in How to Hold Elections", "GE2015: First time Polling Day falls on a Friday, but not first time polls held on a weekday", "180/2014 Z.z. Do you think it's time for the US to follow their lead? Countries outpacing the U.S. include the U.K, Mexico and Canada. the Tuesday that occurs within November 2 to November 8. If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? And. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. Countries which permit absentee ballots, early ballots or postal votes to be cast by mail before the election avoid the problem altogether by enabling voters to vote on a day that is more convenient to them. [14][35] In Australia, where voting is mandatory, elections are celebrated with parties and barbeques nationwide, resulting in turnout rates around 90%. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 3 Countries Where It's Easier To Vote Than the United States Maybe Making Election Day a National Holiday Wouldn't Really Work Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Public holidays in Belgium in 2022 and 2023 | Expatica Why Election Day is Held on a Tuesday in November in the U.S. A Boatload of Ballots: Midterm Voter Turnout Hit 50-Year High, Estonia's i-voting: more secure, more popular, Macedonia referendum: Low voter turnout puts country's name change at risk, What Voting and Elections Look Like Around the World, X Marks the Choice: Voting Methods around the World, Defense Language and National Security Education Office. 1. Voters in more than one-third of the country enjoy some form of an Election Day holiday, according to RepresentUs. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. "With the variety of challenges that election officials face, [making Election Day a holiday] is well down on the list of those things that need to be addressed," Becker said. The outliers are a tiny minority, and only two countries have no formal national day at all. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? The United States is out of step with the rest of the world: elections are held on weekends in 27 of the 36 OECD countries. In a number of states, polling places have been closed in minority neighborhoods, which has created long lines and tremendous inconvenience for affected votersinconvenience with a cost, especially for those paid hourly wages. Democracy on the ballot will the remaining election deniers succeed? Should election day in the United States be made a national holiday All this despite the fact that these types of restrictions have typically been considered illegal under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires that elections be equally open to all people. 3. [31]. Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. Given this, an Election Day holiday would remove a significant barrier to participation for relatively well-to-do potential voters while doing little to make voting easier for a significant. "We already know how to make voting convenient to voters that's by offering them options, like making an election season rather than election day," he said. By law, polling day is a public holiday if it falls on a weekday. Most of these 19 states' policies only cover general elections, though. Traditionally elections are held over two days, starting on a Friday afternoon and ending the following Saturday afternoon. Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be. Countries that have weekend or holiday elections do tend to have better turnout overall. Corrections? Sundays are the most common day for elections, but this is less true in the Anglosphere; Saturdays are used in New Zealand and Australia, and weekdays for the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. [25], According to the AFL-CIO, 30 states require employers to allow employees time off for voting. This is why election day is not a holiday in Canada - blogTO 4) The outliers are few but tell you a lot about those countries. Argentina has instated compulsory voting laws, but only sees about 76% voter turnout. 12, 2019, Ceylan Pumphrey, "Do Businesses Have to Give Federal Holidays Like Presidents Day Off?, blogs.findlaw.com, Feb. 14, 2018, Department of Labor, "Holiday Pay, dol.gov (accessed Sep. 23, 2019), Peggy Emch, "Is Holiday Pay Required by Law?, timesheets.com, 2013, Fast Casual, "Study: Why Hourly Workers Forced to Work Multiple Jobs, fastcasual.com, Apr. Whether accurate or not, elected officials likely think that making it easier to vote would advantage one party traditionally it is believed to help the Democrats at the expense of the other party, the GOP, said Vincent Hutchings, a University of Michigan political science professor. South Korea and Israel hold theirs during the week, but have made the day a federal holiday. "And we actually have more options than ever before.". While making Election Day a national holiday or moving it to the weekend would by no means be a cure-all, it could be used in conjunction with other strategies like automatic voter registration (nearly 87% of registered voters participated in the 2016 election), restoring voting rights for formerly incarcerated people and removing other barriers such as voter ID requirements and voter roll purges that often disenfranchise people of color. Today in my country it is a national holiday as we celebrate the day Executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research David Becker argues that increasing turnout is a nuanced problem that can't be fixed by declaring a holiday. October 26, 2020 / 10:57 AM Election Day is already a holiday for state employees in more than a dozen states including Kentucky, Michigan, and New York. There is a simple and straightforward solution: make Election Day a national holiday so that people have the time and freedom to vote without taking time off from work. by country by date People literally cannot get to the polling booth because it may close at 7 o'clock and they're working later. In Estonia, a national ID card (required for every citizen in the country) can be used to vote remotely. There is a "need to make voting more accessible, to make it more of a civic duty, to make sure that people don't have to choose between their job and their ability to cast the ballot are issues that are more prominent today than ever before," she told CBS News. While the Republican efforts are shrouded in their supposed desire to protect the integrity of elections, there is no evidence of significant voter fraud in recent elections, including presidential election in 2020. Why Isn't Election Day A National Holiday In The United States? - HuffPost Skip Navigation Such a change would mostly benefit white-collar workers instead of the lower-income workers its designed to help. Would making Election Day a federal holiday increase voter turnout and celebrate democracy? After all, what do our veterans fight for, if not for democracy itself? Instead, lawmakers could simply move nearby Veterans Day to Election Day, emphasizing that voting is both a service to the country and a celebration of the rights and freedoms for which our servicemembers fight. Elections to the Bundestag may be held on another public holiday. Consider the pandemic, which has not given essential workers more time off. It would take an act of Congress to make Election Day a national holiday, and there is currently a bill proposing to designate "Democracy Day" as a national election holiday before a special committee. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. But Gupta said that there's been a "lack of political will" to give the initiative some momentum. Of the nonvoters surveyed by the US Census Bureau about the 2008 presidential election, the 2012 presidential election, and numerous other elections, the most commonly cited reason for not voting was being too busy or having conflicting work schedules. Is Election Day a national holiday? Why you don't get the day off [6] Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. procon@eb.com, 2022 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Sunday. There are some exceptions; as Wednesday was not covered by the available dates, the Netherlands holds elections on Thursday, while Denmark holds elections on Sunday. Turning Election Day into a national holiday would instill a sense of pride in all citizens, knowing they have the ability to cast a ballot regardless of work. Early voting for the midterms varies by state. And there is no better way to secure democracy than to ensure that everyone has not only the right to vote, but also the meaningful opportunity to cast their ballots. Understanding what happened in the Chicago mayoral race. In Switzerland, only one canton (or member state) requires voting; it is voluntary all other cantons of the country. Some say a holiday would increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote while celebrating democracy. Election Day is always the first Tuesday after November 1st. 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? By Monday morning, nearly 60 million had already voted early across the country, closing in on half of 2016's total voter turnout. Maybe that could give us some hint as to the frequent foreign sensitivities and accusations, right or wrong, about Western foreign policy echoing old colonial practices. 3) Britain and Denmark have no national days. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. South Africa's is from the first democratic elections, in 1994. While countries like Belgium, Sweden, and Turkey saw more than 80% of their estimated voting-age population cast votes in recent elections, less than 56% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted during the 2016 presidential election. By comparison,. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election List two to three ways. Consider this: Even if Election Day were moved to a weekend or turned into a national holiday, retail and service industry employees would still need to work. Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. 1. National and Festival Holiday Act, which is applicable to all establishments in the country, irrespective of under which law it is formed it is mandatory to grant leave on following 3 days, i.e. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday. Elections to the European Parliament take place over a period of four days (i.e., Thursday through to Sunday), according to the election days of the EU members states (as listed above). Election Practices in Other Countries That America Could Learn From