Plato argued that the longer a democracy endured, the more democratic it would become. America is the world’s oldest democratic republic, and indeed freedom and equality under the law have spread through various constitutional amendments. This expansion of rights, however, has coincided with a decrease in voter participation. This makes our elections less democratic because a smaller proportion of the population is taking part in the decision.
Mass democracy in the age of mass media, in which interest in politics is seemingly at an all-time high, has not resulted in the type of voter turnout that might be expected. America has one of the lowest rates of voter participation of any modern democracy. A 2018 Pew Research poll ranked the United States 27th out of 35 developed countries, with a 47.7% voter turnout rate on average since 1945.
If we were starting a democracy from scratch it’s doubtful we would choose the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day. This tradition was established by President John Tyler in 1845 when most of the eligible voters in America were Christian farmers who traveled by horse. It could often take a full day to get to one’s polling site and voting on Tuesday did not require travel on Sunday, the Sabbath, or interfere with what was traditionally a “market day” on Wednesday. The month of November was chosen because farmers were done with harvest, and it was before the winter weather that could have made it difficult to travel.
Today, America is no longer an agrarian society, and commutes to town no longer require horses and buggies. The challenges Americans now face are vastly different from those of 1845; therefore, our laws and customs should reflect this. A much more effective way to get people to the polls would be to change Election Day from a Tuesday to a Saturday and Sunday.
The Americans who do not vote cite inconvenience as the sole reason. According to the Census Bureau, registered voters say conflicting schedules are the most common reason for not voting. The demands of work, family and school make it difficult for many citizens to get to the polling stations. Single parents, those with long commutes and those who work multiple jobs struggle more than others.
According the Current Population Survey, the occupations that report the highest voter turnout rates in midterm elections are salaried professionals with flexible work schedules such as lawyers and executives. Those with the lowest turnout are wage-earners who hold service jobs in restaurants and retail. A citizen’s economic position, or the demands of everyday life, should not determine whether he or she is able to vote. Dedicating two whole days to our elections would give every citizen a greater opportunity to participate in our democracy.
Countries that do vote on weekends, including France (67.3%), Germany (80.2%), Thailand (82.1%), Russia (56.6%) and Japan (68.7%), have a greater voter participation rate than the U.S.
Our Tuesday in November custom is not enshrined in the Constitution. It is a 19th-century relic that makes it difficult for many 21st-century Americans to exercise their most fundamental right. All that this change would require is a bill from Congress and the president’s signature. The Weekend Voting Act does indeed exist and has been introduced in Congress, most recently in 2017.
We can imagine a better way to vote. All it requires is political will to make it a lasting change.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)
