Civic Register
| 10.16.18

Should Americans Get a Day Off to Vote?

Vote to see how others feel about this issue

Why would Americans need a day off to vote?

A few facts:

  • The United States is one of the few countries to hold elections on a workday.
  • In November 2016, about 40 percent of the voting-age population cast a ballot in the general election.
  • In the 2014 midterms, only 33 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot—setting the record for the lowest turnout in any national election of any advanced democracy (except Andorra) since 1945. 
  • In 25 states, employers are not required to give their employees paid leave to vote; in 19 states, employers are not required to let their employees leave work to vote.

With voter turnout in the U.S. among the lowest in the world, is it time to make Election Day a federal holiday?

Or should more states follow California law, which allows employees to take two hours paid time off in the beginning or end of work vote on Election Day?

Businesses doing what Congress will not

  • Kaiser Permanente, Levi Strauss & Co., PayPal, Tyson Foods, and Walmart are offering paid time off, a day without meetings, or resources for mail-in ballots and early voting.
  • Lyft is offering free and discounted rides to the polls.
  • Patagonia, the outdoor retailer, is closing its doors on Election Day and is urging other companies to do the same.
  • Blue Point Brewing has released Voters’ Day Off, a beer designed to encourage Congress to establish Election Day as a federal holiday. It’s also launched a petition aimed at Congress through Change.org.

What is Congress doing?

  • In June 2017, Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) re-introduced the Time Off to Vote Act, which would require employers to grant their workers at least two hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. 
“Voting should not be a luxury that only the well-off can afford,” said Rep. Cartwright. “This bill helps ensure that all Americans, regardless of their economic status, are able to exercise the right to vote.”

What do you think?

Should Election Day be a federal holiday? Or would you like to see something closer to the Time Off to Vote Act? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman