Make it a Holiday!
Tuesday? Is election day really on a Tuesday? At least make election day a holiday if we are going to make election day a Tuesday. But honestly, why on earth is the biggest decision Americans will collectively make made on a Tuesday?
Actually, the reason for voting on Tuesday is helpful to the American people. Well, at least the American people of 1845. Last time I looked at the calendar I read 2017. In 1845 the country was, for the most part, an agricultural society. It took many farmers a full day to travel by horse-drawn buggies to the county seat to vote. Also, the Biblical Sabbath and market day in most towns were on a Wednesday. Because of these factors, the easiest day for people to vote in 1845 was a Tuesday.
But the easiest day to vote in 2017 is definitely not on Tuesday. Tuesday voting has led to a chronically low voting turnout. According to NPR, there is "data showing that 1 in 4 people says he's too busy or his schedule doesn't allow him to get to the polls."
There should be no-one in the country who is too busy or unavailable to vote for the person who will lead our country. This decision is the single biggest decision our country makes every 4 years. The solution to this problem could go two ways. The first option is to move voting day to the weekend. This would free people up to vote without interfering with their schedule and work. The second option is to make Tuesday a national holiday.
In my eyes, making Tuesday a holiday is the best option. While the weekend would work, making Tuesday a national holiday would encourage people to vote. This holiday would only happen once every 4 years, and would not take away to much from peoples schedule. The nation needs to advertise voting as "the cool thing to do." When people see a bandwagon, they want to jump on it. However, momentum needs to be created not only in getting people to vote but also in getting people to vote with purpose. But that is an entirely different discussion. For this argument, the focus needs to remain on voter turnout. If America sets an entire day aside for the sole purpose of celebrating our freedom to vote and to choose our leader, then there is no doubt turnout will improve.
The biggest decision our country makes need to be set aside and celebrated. What better way is there to celebrate than take off work and vote for the person who will lead our country.
Actually, the reason for voting on Tuesday is helpful to the American people. Well, at least the American people of 1845. Last time I looked at the calendar I read 2017. In 1845 the country was, for the most part, an agricultural society. It took many farmers a full day to travel by horse-drawn buggies to the county seat to vote. Also, the Biblical Sabbath and market day in most towns were on a Wednesday. Because of these factors, the easiest day for people to vote in 1845 was a Tuesday.
But the easiest day to vote in 2017 is definitely not on Tuesday. Tuesday voting has led to a chronically low voting turnout. According to NPR, there is "data showing that 1 in 4 people says he's too busy or his schedule doesn't allow him to get to the polls."
There should be no-one in the country who is too busy or unavailable to vote for the person who will lead our country. This decision is the single biggest decision our country makes every 4 years. The solution to this problem could go two ways. The first option is to move voting day to the weekend. This would free people up to vote without interfering with their schedule and work. The second option is to make Tuesday a national holiday.
In my eyes, making Tuesday a holiday is the best option. While the weekend would work, making Tuesday a national holiday would encourage people to vote. This holiday would only happen once every 4 years, and would not take away to much from peoples schedule. The nation needs to advertise voting as "the cool thing to do." When people see a bandwagon, they want to jump on it. However, momentum needs to be created not only in getting people to vote but also in getting people to vote with purpose. But that is an entirely different discussion. For this argument, the focus needs to remain on voter turnout. If America sets an entire day aside for the sole purpose of celebrating our freedom to vote and to choose our leader, then there is no doubt turnout will improve.
The biggest decision our country makes need to be set aside and celebrated. What better way is there to celebrate than take off work and vote for the person who will lead our country.
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