I used to get off a whole day for election day but over the years it became half a day, then 2 hours now no time at all.

Election day is a holiday or on a weekend in most other nations.

closing polls earlier than 9 pm is not right. working people need time to vote.

Even more opportunity and eliminates any religious conflicts for most people.

If you don't help run the place, pay for it.

Unless they can demonstrate that it benefits them more.

Can't have the slaves goin' off the reservation.

Where I work there are NO paid holidays. It would just be an unpaid day off and when you work a low wage job where you are lucky to get a full 40 hours (and still can't pay your basic bills) then another unpaid holiday off is not a good thing.

Just sending out word from the less fortunate world for you all to see.

Julie

That would contribute to higher turnout and, in districts where they try to suppress the vote by providing too few machines, folks wouldn't give up because they had to rush back to work. Making it easier for people to vote is in everybody's best interest and would hopefully curb efforts of voter suppression.

And I think that is a good idea. But more needs to be done to encourage people to vote. My wife tells me a lot of the younger people don't bother to vote. When I taught at a university, I would remind students about election day. Hell, it's not even MY country and they are too lazy to go vote when reminded. It pisses me off.

I will have voting rights here next year I believe (all but for president unless I decide to go for citizenship which is unlikely to happen). I'll gladly vote in both the US and Korean elections.

Let's make it a real celebration.

then you get paid for missing that day of work. If you don't go vote, you still get the day off, but you don't get paid for it.

Fuck the corporations. Those cocksuckers can afford it.

It seems appropriate. Our system of government is one of the things our veterans died for.

That way you defang some of the argument from people about adding an additional holiday.

Elections should be held in mid-September, with polls open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on a Friday AND Saturday. EVERY state should offer no-fault absentee and/or mail-in voting.

Based on some of the replies to the OP it seems like in the States, employers are not even required to give you time off to vote - is that right!? That really doesn't seem fair.

In Canada, in my province anyway, employers are required to give 3 consecutive hours for voting if the employee's usual schedule wouldn't allow 3 consecutive hours. I work 9 - 5, and the polls are open 9-9, so I have 3 hours after my usual work day - I don't get to choose to take 3 hours in the middle of the day or anything, but for some shift workers, being allowed to leave early or come in late makes the difference between being able to vote or not.

When you can get an absentee ballot, when it's due back by, when early voting happens (if at all), just anything that can be messed with to shift outcomes.

"'MERCA!"

that's celebrated much like July 4th.
End it with fireworks, make a spectacle of it with parades and such.

That will keep it in the public eye. Maybe even have a lottery for voters where the winner get's a cash jackpot like powerball.

It's sleazy, but will help GOTV.

nt

a national holiday with at least 18 hours of voting through midnight. That should cover everyone.

Of course right wingers (who mostly have a rural and suburban constituency) would rather we had less time to vote. They love the long long voting lines in urban areas. Anything to discourage poor working class people from voting.