http://www.whytuesday.org/

As everyone in the United States who has ever voted knows, the midterm and general elections are always on the first Tuesday of November.  This date was passed in the 1800's because November was the easiest month and Tuesday the easiet day for farmers to vote.  Congress has the right to change the day and month of elections at will.

This somewhat new group wants to day to be Saturday because, they believe, it will give more people the chance to vote.  What is your opinion?

Personally I like getting off work early on election day.

Personally I like getting off work early on election day.


Just checking this.  Does everyone get to finish early so they can go and vote?

In the UK the polling stations open at about 8.00 am (it might be 7.00 for General Elections) and close at 10.00 p.m.  That gives evry one the chance to vote.  Plus if you really can't get to the polling station you can have a postal vote.

Just checking this.  Does everyone get to finish early so they can go and vote?

In the UK the polling stations open at about 8.00 am (it might be 7.00 for General Elections) and close at 10.00 p.m.  That gives evry one the chance to vote.  Plus if you really can't get to the polling station you can have a postal vote.


For some reason, in last year's general election here, all of us knocked off at 3:30...for 'voting purposes' (so the voices upstairs said...)

I've never had that luxury before...not that it mattered, because I didn't bother voting!

Employers must give their employees the opportunity to vote.
It is not mandatory for them to close early.

For some reason, in last year's general election here, all of us knocked off at 3:30...for 'voting purposes' (so the voices upstairs said...)

I've never had that luxury before...not that it mattered, because I didn't bother voting!


I wonder which union they are in?  We had big pressure on us from union centrally to get members to vote Labour.  We did are usual and ignored them, just reminded people that they have a vote and should use it wisely

So why do we still vote on the first Tuesday after the first Saturday in November?  As Tevia (of Fidler on the Roof) said "Its a tradition".

So why do we still vote on the first Tuesday after the first Saturday in November?


Are you sure of that?  In 2004 we voted on Tuesday, November 02.

I wonder which union they are in?  We had big pressure on us from union centrally to get members to vote Labour.  We did are usual and ignored them, just reminded people that they have a vote and should use it wisely


Being the 'legal profession', you'd naturally assume they'd all be Tory boys...

Though it's difficult to ascertain these days, as Tone's got so many 'legal chums' on board...

Mind you, some of the law reforms he's been trying to push through of late has won him few friends in the profession...

I don't think there are that many people who can vote but don't because of the day of the week. Polls are open before and after most working people's work hours, so the argument is pretty week so far.

The best argument for Saturday is that it doesn't require school to be closed on that day due to voting (if your town is like mine, they hold it at the high school or the elementary schools).

They should focus on making sure that when people do show up they aren't turned away or forced to wait long times, which has occured in swing states in the past.  They should also focus on more checks and balances for electronic voting (paper trail!).  I'm a software professional from what I've seen reported in the trade sites, the systems are way too easy to hack.

I don't think there are that many people who can vote but don't because of the day of the week. Polls are open before and after most working people's work hours, so the argument is pretty week so far.

The best argument for Saturday is that it doesn't require school to be closed on that day due to voting (if your town is like mine, they hold it at the high school or the elementary schools).

They should focus on making sure that when people do show up they aren't turned away or forced to wait long times, which has occured in swing states in the past.  They should also focus on more checks and balances for electronic voting (paper trail!).  I'm a software professional from what I've seen reported in the trade sites, the systems are way too easy to hack.




I agree, Chucky. Also, if people can't get to polls on Election Day because of work-they can always do absentee voting.




Cat

I say leave it alone.

You can always vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to make it because of work or other commitment.  Not having time is as lame an excuse as "the dog ate my homework".

I think it's a good idea. If you consider that most people get off work at 5, and the polls close at 8 or 9, that only leaves a few hours to go and vote. And if you take into account all the other things people have to do in the evening, like commute back home, pick up the kids from school, and make dinner, there's probably quite a few voters who find they don't have the time to make it to the polls on election day.

Employers are supposed to let employees out in enough time to vote.  Of course nothing says that they cannot exert subtle
pressure for people to stay.  I was supposed to work overtime one voting day, but said no, gotta go vote, there were others whose
employment was a bit more tenuous who didn't, fearing they would lose their jobs.