Every two years people complain about the low voter turnout for elections which recently has ranged between 49-56%. Well that's because elections are held on Tuesday! With our economy today, most people aren't willing to, nor can they afford to take off of work to go vote, even though most would like to.
Why not change the date to a Saturday...maybe the first Saturday of November? That could easily shoot the percentage up to 80-90%. What would need to be done in Washington to make this happen?
Elections were originally set on Tuesday for agricultural reasons. But these days that is hardly an issue with the majority of Americans.
Is there anyone who feels the same as myself? Is there something that can be done to make this happen or do most politicians not want to change this for fear of affecting their chances of election/reelection?
2007-09-13 06:50:17 · 6 answers · asked by grich_01 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
Most law makers are already aware of those issues, thats why in most places voting starts at 6 am and ends at 9 pm, to make sure there is time for everyone.
They came to a conclusion a few years ago, that even if it were held on a saturday the turn out rate would be basically the same, but it would be the opposite type of people voting.
This was a poll done in 30 states.
But, I think changing the day may help, what you need to do is write to your congressmen and have others do the same
2007-09-13 07:00:06 · answer #1 · answered by kon11stantine11 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the selection of public officials by popular ballot. Federal (or National) Elections always occur on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November of every even numbered year (the Tuesday between November 2 and November 8, inclusively).
Therefore the law would have to be changed
2007-09-13 07:04:43 · answer #2 · answered by bob t 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I do not agree with you. I have met a number of people in my life who have said that they do not vote and they have never registered to vote but none of them have ever told me that they want to but feel that they don't have the time to take off from work and go vote. In my original home state, election polling places were open for a lot longer than just 8 hours. Polls opened very early in the am and remained open all day long until quite late at night. And lots of people with ordinary 9 to 5, M thru F jobs did vote.
People do not vote for a number of reasons, but it isn't because it is too hard to vote on a Tuesday as compared to a Saturday. I've heard some people say that they don't register to vote because they're afraid that doing so increases the likelihood that they'll be called for jury duty (which is an irrational explanation for why, but an explanation like that gives you what sense of civic duty such people have).
And I, who used to vote, will never vote again because I am disgusted and outraged at the Supreme Court's persistant abuse of its powers in the guise of "constitutional interpretation." I figure that if those un-elected, corrupt jerks up there in Wash. D.C. can stop our votes from being counted, why bother?
2007-09-13 07:01:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people don't know this, but an American citizen MUST be allowed time off to vote by an employer.
But I agree, the voting day should at least be a national holiday. This can be done with a simple law.
2007-09-13 06:58:45 · answer #4 · answered by blindcuriosity 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If people don't feel it's important enough to make time to vote, I'd just as soon they didn't. They're probably too ignorant to make an informed decision anyway.
2007-09-13 06:59:58 · answer #5 · answered by thegubmint 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if it benefits the worst candidates ever: Obama, Mitt, Fred, Giuliani, Hitlery, and McCain.
2007-09-13 07:11:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋