Election Day Should Be A National Holiday

Why Are We Even Talking About Election Day as a Holiday?

Let’s be honest—most Americans treat Election Day like a Tuesday obstacle course. Worth adding: you shuffle to the polling place between dropping the kids at daycare and grabbing lunch, hoping the line isn’t so long you miss your afternoon meeting. Or maybe you’re one of the unlucky ones who can’t make it work at all because your employer didn’t give you time off and your boss is “flexible” about voting.

The reality is starker: millions of eligible Americans don’t vote. Here's the thing — not because they don’t care. Not because they’re uninformed. But because they literally can’t. Between work schedules, childcare responsibilities, and the simple fact that voting hours often clash with their lives, participation drops. And when participation drops, democracy itself takes a hit.

So why are we even having this conversation? Because several states have already made it a holiday—some officially, others through court rulings or legislative action—and the results are quietly compelling. So turnout goes up. People show up. And something else happens too: the act of voting starts to feel less like a chore and more like a civic moment.

What Does It Mean to Make Election Day a National Holiday?

At its core, making Election Day a national holiday means Americans get the day off work to vote without penalty. It doesn’t necessarily mean polls are open longer or that everyone gets paid time off—those details vary by jurisdiction—but it does mean you shouldn’t lose pay or your job for taking time to cast a ballot.

Right now, the United States is one of the few developed democracies without a statutory national holiday for voting. On the flip side, australia? They close the whole country. Practically speaking, canada? Still, provincial holidays in many places. So even our neighbor to the north, Mexico, gives citizens a day to vote. We’re the odd one out. Worth knowing.

Some states have tried to patch this gap. New Hampshire gives state employees the day off. And a handful of states officially recognize Election Day as a holiday for state workers. Colorado, for example, automatically sends mail-in ballots to all registered voters, which has boosted participation. But across the rest of the country, it’s still a patchwork of employer courtesy and individual flexibility.

The federal level hasn’t formally designated Election Day as a holiday, though it’s been proposed repeatedly—most recently in various forms through the For the People Act and the Electoral Count Reform Act. Neither has made it through Congress yet, but the conversation keeps coming up, year after year.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Here’s the thing about making Election Day a holiday: it’s not just about convenience. Consider this: it’s about access. On top of that, it’s about equity. It’s about whether your voice counts the same as someone else’s.

Right now, the people who vote most consistently are also the ones who typically have flexible schedules, paid time off, or the social capital to make voting work. That often means higher-income individuals, retirees, and those with supportive employers. Meanwhile, essential workers—nurses, teachers, service industry employees, shift workers—often face a stark trade-off: vote and risk your paycheck, or stay home and keep the lights on.

Real talk: that’s not a democracy in action. That’s a system that privileges certain lives over others.

When Australia made voting compulsory and gave everyone a day to do it, they saw a dramatic increase in participation. Not because they forced people to vote, but because they removed the barriers. When you remove barriers, more people participate. It’s that simple.

And it’s not just about raw numbers. Policies skew toward those who can more easily participate. It’s about representation. When certain groups are systematically less likely to vote, their needs get overlooked. It creates a feedback loop: if you’re not voting, your concerns don’t get addressed, so you’re less motivated to vote next time.

Making Election Day a holiday breaks that cycle. It sends a message: your vote matters enough that the country will make space for it.

How It Could Actually Work

Let’s say Congress passes legislation making Election Day a federal holiday. What happens next?

First, federal employees would get the day off. Many companies already give employees flexibility around voting, especially in states where it’s already a holiday. But here’s where it gets interesting—the ripple effect on private employers. So would contractors and vendors working for the government. They’d likely extend that practice nationwide.

Some states might go further, mandating paid time off to vote for all workers. Others might leave it up to employers, but the cultural expectation would shift. It would become less acceptable for a company to penalize someone for voting.

Polling places would probably see a surge in early voters. Lines might be shorter during traditional voting hours because more people would have the day to make it to the polls. And in states with mail-in voting, the combination of a holiday and automatic ballot distribution could create a powerful turnout boost.

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There’s also the question of timing. Should Election Day be moved? But should we shift to a weekend? On top of that, or keep it on Tuesday but give everyone the day after as a vacation-style holiday? Day to day, each option has trade-offs. Moving it to a weekend might reduce weekday traffic but could also reduce the sense of civic duty that comes with taking time out of your regular schedule.

What Most People Get Wrong About This

A common objection is that making Election Day a holiday is unnecessary because we already have early voting and mail-in ballots. And sure, those tools help. But they’re not equally accessible everywhere.

In rural areas, early voting sites might be hours away. Mail-in voting requires reliable postal service and the time to fill out and return a ballot. And even with these options, there’s still a timing problem—when your work schedule doesn’t align with polling hours, you’re at a disadvantage.

Another myth is that this is just another government holiday that will burden businesses. But look at the data: countries with national voting holidays don’t see massive economic disruption. In fact, some studies suggest that the long-term benefits of higher civic engagement—better policy decisions, more responsive governance—outweigh any short-term costs.

And then there’s the assumption that people who don’t vote just don’t care. Plus, that’s rarely true. Most non-voters aren’t apathetic—they’re busy, overwhelmed, or simply priced out of participation by circumstances beyond their control.

What Actually Works in Practice

New Zealand made Election Day a holiday in 1893, and they’ve had near-universal participation ever since. South Korea gives citizens a day off to vote, and turnout consistently exceeds 80%. Even in the United States, where we’re more fragmented, states that have made Election Day a holiday for state employees tend to see higher turnout among those workers.

But here’s what’s different from other holidays: unlike Thanksgiving or Christmas, Election Day doesn’t require special planning or travel. It doesn’t disrupt supply chains or entertainment schedules. It’s a day that most people can spend however they want—and many choose to spend it voting.

The key is pairing the holiday with other reforms. Because of that, automatic voter registration. That said, extended polling hours. That's why solid mail-in ballot systems. When you combine a national holiday with these other changes, the impact multiplies.

FAQ

Do we need to move Election Day to a weekend?

Not necessarily. Now, keeping it on Tuesday maintains the tradition and allows for a long weekend if desired. Some proposals suggest giving everyone the day after as a vacation-style holiday, which preserves the Tuesday tradition while providing flexibility.

Won’t this hurt businesses?

The economic impact is likely minimal. Many essential services would still operate, and most businesses already accommodate voting in some form. The long-term benefits of a more engaged electorate often outweigh short-term operational adjustments.

How would this affect states with different voting systems?

States with reliable early voting and mail-in systems would see the biggest immediate gains. States relying primarily on Election Day polling would need to ensure adequate staffing and resources to handle potential surges.

What about the cost to taxpayers?

The primary costs would be administrative—extended polling hours, additional staffing, and potential overtime. These are one-time or infrequent expenses compared to the ongoing benefits of higher civic participation.

Could this be implemented without federal legislation?

Yes, though federal action would ensure nationwide consistency. States and municipalities could implement their own versions, but that would create another patchwork of voting accessibility.

The Bigger Picture

Making Election Day a national holiday isn’t just about one day in November. It’s about what that day represents. It’s about treating democracy not as a background function but as a central civic responsibility.