Have Democrats tried to introduce an "Election Day Holiday" bill recently

[Democat]

Have Democrats tried to introduce a bill making election day a holiday this year? It seems like a winning issue for our side, because if Republicans block it, or Bush were to refuse to sign it, then Democrats could make it into a major issue showing that the right wing doesn't want people to vote.

I know that this idea is not new, I'm just curious when the last time it was brought up by the legislator was and what the result was.

It seems like an idea that is long overdue. This year we have heard so much about making sure that every military vote counts - they've passed bills to make it easier for the military to vote - but what about the vast majority of Americans who are not in the military?

We have holidays for many things, why not one on election day that would allow Americans to vote more easily?

[featherman]

1. I'm a business owner and will be giving my employees the

afternoon off on election day at full pay.

[Cha]

3. Bless you for your real patriotism!

Thank you! :kick:

[liberalmuse]

8. Awesome!

I wish more employers were like you. You are a perfect example of someone who cherishes democracy.

[Cha]

2. You mean like Australia

has a holiday on Election day and it is a misdemeanor if you don't vote?

I think it's a Grand Idea!

[BloodyWilliam]

5. Eh, even if it's stupid,

People should have the choice of not voting. I do however love an Election Day holiday idea.

[bluestateguy]

4. Brought up last year by Debbie Stabenow

National Holiday for Election Day Proposed

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

In an effort to boost participation in the nation's elections, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offered legislation that would make Election Day in November a national holiday.

Stabenow says her proposal is rooted in studies of voter participation in the world's major democracies and in a survey completed by the U.S. Census Bureau. The legislation also draws on the findings of a bipartisan commission headed by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. The commission was created to recommend election reforms after the 2000 election.

"Studies of the 21 most advanced democracies, going all the way back to 1945, show the United States rate of voter participation is one of the lowest in the world - and continues to fall," Stabenow says. "Between 1980 and 2000, voter participation in Australia, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Sweden was 80 percent or better, and participation in Israel, Great Britain and Canada was 70 percent or better. Over the same period, however, voter participation in the United States was just 50 percent."

Stabenow notes a survey done by the U.S. Census Bureau shortly after the 2000 elections that found respondents cited a schedule conflict with work or school as the number one reason for not voting.

cut

http://hr2.blr.com/Article.cfm/Nav/5.0.0.0.27008

But we need to be careful. I don't want it to turn out like "Labor Day" where retail workers have to work to serve white collar workers who get the day off. That cannot be allowed.

Business groups would whine and complain, so they would have to be rolled over. State governments would piss and moan about the loss of sales tax revenue, though they can be compensated for the loss.

[ClassWarrior]

6. There's always gonna be people who piss and moan.

Sometimes we just have to live with it for a greater good.

23.

[Democat]

7. Thanks for the link, it's too bad the bill didn't get more attention

What American would be against this bill other than Republicans who want to try to stop the middle class and working poor from voting?