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Election Day should be a national holiday. (Original Post) matmar Jun 2012 OP
I've said the same thing LeftofObama Jun 2012 #1
Or... kenfrequed Jun 2012 #2
Are employers not required to let their employees vote there or something? Posteritatis Jun 2012 #7
I actually lived in Louisiana and worked in Mississippi, about an hour commute. revolution breeze Jun 2012 #13
Yes kenfrequed Jun 2012 #14
In Louisiana, we hold our elections on Saturday for Governor. revolution breeze Jun 2012 #10
Well, it is to the school kids. n/t RebelOne Jun 2012 #3
K&R tallahasseedem Jun 2012 #4
Vote by mail over a period of several days. Nye Bevan Jun 2012 #5
When I lived in Washington, our county was totally vote by mail. revolution breeze Jun 2012 #8
If we really want to have a democracy........... Swede Atlanta Jun 2012 #6
Agree 100% Jake2413 Jun 2012 #9
Exactly revolution breeze Jun 2012 #11
You mean....... Proud Liberal Dem Jun 2012 #12
Only if SCOTUS is ok with it Jake2413 Jun 2012 #18
What penalty do you propose if someone fails to vote? Johnny Rico Jun 2012 #15
A (very) token fine seems to work in Australia Posteritatis Jun 2012 #16
Yes, a small fine would do Jake2413 Jun 2012 #19
Unpaid. cherokeeprogressive Jun 2012 #17
Ditto that L. Coyote Jun 2012 #20
If Obama wins, I'm gonna take the next day off from work! DavidDvorkin Jun 2012 #21

kenfrequed

(7,865 posts)
2. Or...
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 04:50 PM
Jun 2012

It could take place over a weekend to give everyone plenty of time to vote and to allow more people that work five days a week greater access to the polls.

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)
7. Are employers not required to let their employees vote there or something?
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 05:16 PM
Jun 2012

Here they're required by law to give employees four consecutive, paid hours on election day if their schedule would possibly interfere with voting.

revolution breeze

(879 posts)
13. I actually lived in Louisiana and worked in Mississippi, about an hour commute.
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 05:43 PM
Jun 2012

If I was not able to vote before going to work, my boss always made sure I left work no later than 6 pm so I could get to the polls before they closed at 8. This was when I was in my 20s and I think his attitude really reinforced in me the importance of voting (as if having an activist mother wasn't enough of an influence).

kenfrequed

(7,865 posts)
14. Yes
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 06:00 PM
Jun 2012

We have that as well in Minnesota as well as same day voting laws. We also have the highest voter turnout in the nation rather consistently.

I still think it could be better.

revolution breeze

(879 posts)
10. In Louisiana, we hold our elections on Saturday for Governor.
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 05:35 PM
Jun 2012

It doesn't help voter turnout. In the 2011 governors race, just over 30% of registered voters went to the polls, even with two full weeks of early voting. People always has an excuse: football game, opening day of deer season, a festival, etc......

revolution breeze

(879 posts)
8. When I lived in Washington, our county was totally vote by mail.
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 05:24 PM
Jun 2012

For the 2004 Govenor's election, I never received my ballot, and hubby received his on the ship the day before election day. I was able to go the the registrar's office and cast my vote but hubby was unable to vote in that election because there was no way it could be postmarked by election day (small ship, not part of a carrier battle group). And I like going to the polls, I always bring my children and give them a mini-civics lesson about the importance of being an informed voter.

 

Swede Atlanta

(3,596 posts)
6. If we really want to have a democracy...........
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 05:12 PM
Jun 2012

then Election Day on the year of a Presidential contest should be a National Holiday OR elections should be held on a weekend.

In most European countries this is on a Sunday but heaven forbid we would get a ration of resistance from Xtians here.

But since we don't really take elections seriously here we have what we have.

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)
16. A (very) token fine seems to work in Australia
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 07:56 PM
Jun 2012

Someone misses a vote, they're asked to explain why; there's acceptable outs such as illness or religious objection, etc., and if one of those isn't provided then the voter's fined twenty dollars.

They had a ninety-four percent turnout for their last election.

Jake2413

(226 posts)
19. Yes, a small fine would do
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 09:15 PM
Jun 2012

if there are not extenuating circumstances. I think I read Britain has a fine as well, like 25 Pounds

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