Democratic lawmakers push measure to make Election Day a holiday

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3045174


Hope this isn't a dupe - if it is I'll delete:



Democratic lawmakers push measure to make Election Day a holiday
Clinton, Kerry join call for bill aiming for higher turnout and fewer problems at polls
By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press

Associated Press
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. John Kerry, potential Democratic candidates in the 2008 presidential race, discuss the Count Every Vote Act on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a possible White House candidate in 2008, joined 2004 nominee John Kerry and other Democrats Thursday in urging that Election Day be made a federal holiday to encourage voting.

She also pushed for legislation allowing all ex-felons to vote.

Standing with Kerry, of Massachusetts, and other Democrats who had alleged voting irregularities in 2004, Clinton said, "Once again we had a federal election that demonstrates we have a long way to go."

"I think it's also necessary to make sure our elections meet the highest national standards," the New York senator said.

She and Kerry, both considered contenders for the 2008 nomination, were joined by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who forced a highly unusual House and Senate debate Jan. 6 on the presidential election results.

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More here:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/politics/3045174

national voting standards
auditable paper trail
guaranteed access to polls (no exclusion by lines)

Go Jesse Jackson Jr.!!

NGU.

5:00, and would allow a lot more people to vote, and to take their kids to the polls with them, to encourage civic duty at a yound age. My mom started taking me with her as soon as she became a citizen when I was 5 or 6.

I personally know 2 folks that worked on the day of the last election and Yes, they could have taken time off but it appears that they would have missed several hours of work (due to outrageously long lines).
I'm not saying that they positively would have voted but I bet that a lot of people would have if they had not had to work or were afraid of losing work hours (and pay)

as far as I know...

It's been around a while, but I can't remember anyone like Hillary or Kerry signing on.

It's good timing, too, with all the hype about the Iraq elections, for which they completely shut down the country.

make more people available to WORK at the polls, something we desperately need.

It can either be considered a better or worse idea than making a holiday. Beats the hell of having it at a work day, though.

NGU.