NationStates Jolt Archive

I thought about it, and quite frankly I think that election day should be considered a holiday. I mean I would imagine if no one had to work that day, voter turn-out would be greatly increased. Just my opinion, I see it as a win-win situation for everone personally.

If it is, it shouldn't be on a Tuesday. Maybe a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Probably Wednesday.

I thought about it, and quite frankly I think that election day should be considered a holiday. I mean I would imagine if no one had to work that day, voter turn-out would be greatly increased. Just my opinion, I see it as a win-win situation for everone personally.

No. Otherwise I can not go to the bar and get drunk after hearing who won.

Yes, it should. I often hear the excuse that people don't have time to go to the polls because they have to work. That would end that excuse, and hopefully increase voter turnout.

Yes, it should. I often hear the excuse that people don't have time to go to the polls because they have to work. That would end that excuse, and hopefully increase voter turnout.


:) I totally agree.

I don't want fkn class tommarow. It's bad enough we gotta wake up for the election..j/k :P but still..I don't want class tommarow. :D

I don't think class would hurt you...

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Anyway...I'd probably be less likely to vote if it was a holiday. The polls are fucking open all day long. Saying you don't have time is a sorry excuse. Someone who "doesn't have time" really means to say "I don't really care." ...and that's the problem. People don't care. Hell, if you didn't care about who was going to be president, would you be more likely to vote when you already have to get out of the house to go somewhere, or would you be more likely to vote if you got the day off and got to sleep on the couch all day.

I don't want fkn class tommarow. It's bad enough we gotta wake up for the election..j/k :P but still..I don't want class tommarow.

As a student that's my opinion as well :D

But in a realistic sense I think it would definately increase turnout amongst the majority of people who would normally spend their time at work. That was one of my main reasons for thinking that.

If your job does not allow you to go vote, then you should be able to sue them or at least press charges.

I totally agree that it should be a holiday. Then I wouldn't have any guilt in shooting all those that don't vote. Earlier actually I was thinking about the circumstances under which someone shouldn't be shot in the head for not voting. If it's raining and you don't vote, bullet to the head. Lazy...splat. But maybe a tornado or hurricane would be a good reason not to go vote. So yah, voter turnout would be definitely higher. How about implementing mandatory "Voter Schooling" on the issues, as to who's for what and so forth so the people could find out who they really align with, maybe by an independent, nonpartisan group.

only for registered voters

How fun would it be!
Actually, I've gfot till 12:00 today off of school thanks to the military testing our Juniors and Sophmores. tee hee hee.

I don't think class would hurt you...

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Anyway...I'd probably be less likely to vote if it was a holiday. The polls are fucking open all day long. Saying you don't have time is a sorry excuse. Someone who "doesn't have time" really means to say "I don't really care." ...and that's the problem. People don't care. Hell, if you didn't care about who was going to be president, would you be more likely to vote when you already have to get out of the house to go somewhere, or would you be more likely to vote if you got the day off and got to sleep on the couch all day.

It hurts my sleeping patterns when I stay up till 1-3 am on some nights. :P My fault I guess though, lol.

It hurts my sleeping patterns when I stay up till 1-3 am on some nights. :P My fault I guess though, lol.
Would it hurt your spelling?

EDIT: It's 12:18 right here and I'm not asleep yet. I have to wake up at 7 so I can vote before I go to class and I'm not complaining about it.

snippy snippy snippy.

Would you be more likely to vote when you already have to get out of the house to go somewhere, or would you be more likely to vote if you got the day off and got to sleep on the couch all day.

I thought the same thing, although I support the idea. Giving people the day off will make the day important and, with all that time available, people would be able to fit voting somewhere in their day. However, if Election Day becomes a holiday, it just might become another excuse to go out the night before and party because you can sleep in all day, just like the rest of the holidays where the entire meaning of the holiday is forgotten (e.g. Victoria Day up here in Canada). That simply can't happen to Election Day, the results of which have a major influence on people's lives (if one doesn't vote, they just might be stuck with someone who wipes out ALL holidays- that would be something to vote against).

Why not just mail ballots to people's homes?

Why not just mail ballots to people's homes?

Good point...but then you'd have the problems of having your ballots stolen by mischievious kids or one family member taking all the ballots and voting themselves. Also, some may just say it's too much effort to get up to mail in the vote.

Still, it's an idea.

holiday is a dumb idea, everyone would just sit at home or go someplace else.

now, maybe, if people brought in some type of "receipt" for voting, and THEN got to go home, more people would vote.

the polls open before i awake, and close late enough that i truly don't believe anyone who says "I didn't have time, i had to work".

there ARE laws protecting your right to vote. they don't have to pay you while you're gone, but they can't stop you from nor punish you for voting during regular business hours.

Good point...but then you'd have the problems of having your ballots stolen by mischievious kids or one family member taking all the ballots and voting themselves. Also, some may just say it's too much effort to get up to mail in the vote.

Still, it's an idea.
More people would vote this way, and if you don't receive your ballot, call the local polling place or whoever is in charge or whatever and report it. It's two federal crimes (voting fraud, tampering with mail) for the perpatrater, so I doubt it'd be too common, and it'd be simple to go to the polling place and fill out a ballot if yours was stolen.

I believe your employer legally has to let you vote on election day if your shift would prohibit you from reasonably being able to vote.

That said, I think a holiday would discourage people from voting, but I thinking moving election day to a weekend would be better. If it was a holiday people would cash in and take the Monday off of work and have a 4-day weekend.

Why not just mail ballots to people's homes?

In most, if not all, areas, you are eligible for absentee balloting regardless of your actual location. i.e. you can vote by mail even if you are not incapable of voting in your local polling area. If mail voting would encourage you, go sign up, nothing is preventing you.

In most, if not all, areas, you are eligible for absentee balloting regardless of your actual location. i.e. you can vote by mail even if you are not incapable of voting in your local polling area. If mail voting would encourage you, go sign up, nothing is preventing you.
Eh, you don't understand. I'm waking up early this morning to go to the polling place and vote and not complaining about it (I mentioned it in an earlier post). Mailing ballots to ALL registered voters would encourage more to vote, and that's what we're discussing here. Thanks for insulting my intelligence though.

If your job does not allow you to go vote, then you should be able to sue them or at least press charges.

You can. The law says you have to get time off to vote. My job gives people two hours to go vote if they need it. I decided to take the entire day off, though, because it's going to be a cold day in hell before I sit at a workstation taking DSL calls while our election is being decided.

In Belgium, all elections take place on a sunday, when most people have a day off... Of course not everyone has a day off on sunday, but some people (e.g. some doctors) work on hollidays too.

Apart from that, we have to vote, it is obligatory. While one could claim this is not good either, it surely has the advantage that no boss can deny you the chance to vote.

No. Otherwise I can not go to the bar and get drunk after hearing who won.

Ah, but you can have election day parties and get drunk there. I always thought that the last Thursday in November was too late to start the holiday season. First Tuesday sounds much more reasonable.