Why is it not a law that everyone be entitled to paid leave to vote on election day?

Question

Another way of keeping the poor man's voice down?

Yes some employers are decent but the question seeks your opinion on a federal mandate.

Answer 1

Making the November Election Day a holiday would be a good idea- drop Presidents Day.

Answer 2

The reason for this is that not all elections take place on the exact same day. While the major Federal and State elections do, the minor district elections are staggered. Also the polls are open almost all day long so you should have enough time to get out and vote, whether it's first thing in the morning, during a lunch break, or on the way home, people have enough time to get out vote so there's no need for a law like the one in your question.

Answer 3

Because voting is a right that one may choose to take. If everyone got paid leave to vote, the American workforce would close down for that day - just like Christmas or New Years day.

Polling places are usually open from about 7am to 9pm on voting days. You can also vote by absentee ballot if you were unable to make it. Many places now also allow for early voting.


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Here's a better question:
why is it not a law that veterans are entitled to paid leave on Veterans Day?

Answer 4

Why does election day have to be held on a work day? Many countries do it on Saturday. It's the duty of Americans to vote. If your employer feels you can have the time to vote, and he feels strongly about voting, he'll give you time to do so. But many feel you have to do it on your own time, no to detract from the workday. There are already enough vacation days for paid leave in most cases, and voting shouldn't take a whole day to perform

Answer 5

I think that's a great idea. If it's a huge deal, maybe we should get rid of another paid holiday.

However, this would still only help people with salaried full-time jobs that have holidays to begin with. Many of whom are, of course, still part of the underrepresented poor. The guy working at Jack in the Box still may not be able to get out an vote if he needs the cash.

Answer 6

Voting takes very little time if you know who you want before you enter the booth. It took less than two minutes the last time I voted. The time before that I couldn't vote in person so I used an absentee ballot. The percentage of people who vote is very low and it's not because they don't have time, it's because some think their vote doesn't matter and other people don't care.

Answer 7

Because the polls open very early in the morning (i'm thinking as early as 6 am) and don't close until around 7 pm at night. And then if you can't get to the polls at those times you can always get absentee ballotts. There's really no poor man conspiracy to it.

Answer 8

That is just dumb. The polls are opened much longer than most people's working hours. Why should your employer care if you vote or not? Vote after you get off work or quit complaining.

Answer 9

I have never worked for a company that did not allow you time off with pay to vote.