Ever hear of someone having to work two jobs, and perhaps on top of that, spending a lot of time commuting? For some people, it is quite seriously impossible to find time to vote. And even for people who work 9 to 5, they might have to get their kids ready for school in the morning, or have a long commute, or both, and in the few hours they might have after work (if their commute isn't too long) who knows what could come up?
Election Day should be a stress-free day, when you can wake up, have a good breakfast, think about some of those ballot initiatives some more, have one last talk about the candidates and issues with your family, neighbors, friends, and then get together as a town to vote.
Spot on right here, for some people they're tied up with working hours, children and so on that limits the amount of time they have to stand in line to vote. In past elections I believe many who have had to wait many hours simply give up. However in this apparent historic election many are making the sacrifice to be a part of it no matter what.
My sister and I are getting up a 5:am Tuesday morning and vote even though I can take as long as I want to get my vote in. Not everyone has that kind of circumstance.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
The Vikings are believed to have discovered what is present-day Canada long before any European endeavors reached the "New World."
And some anthropologists believe that Chinese explorers may have landed in South America, as Mayan calendars bear a striking resemblance to Chinese calendars. Also, some of their artwork depicts men with beards, yet Mayan men could not grow beards.
I think the week long approach would work on many levels. The problem is that poor people would get a chance to vote, which would shift the power to the liberal/left in the country, and not even the democrats want that...we might actually get socialism in this country. It's also work on a capitalist level in that you could really gather interest in a vote if you took a week to spend on programming, commercials, last second pushes and so on.
The Vikings are believed to have discovered what is present-day Canada long before any European endeavors reached the "New World."
And some anthropologists believe that Chinese explorers may have landed in South America, as Mayan calendars bear a striking resemblance to Chinese calendars. Also, some of their artwork depicts men with beards, yet Mayan men could not grow beards.
while we are at it can we boost thanksgiving from our ridiculous holiday's and just call it "let's get fat America day"? or how about labor day since Reagan destroyed labor unions in this country allowing for corporate domination...unless we want to rename that corporation day. Anyway why not just put all these days together and have a voting week/party for joining in the democratic political process.
I don't believe I am incorrect, but my main question has not been answered. What is the opposition to a longer election period?
The longer the period of the vote the higher the risks of cheating/manipulation.
What I don't understand is why the US doesn't do like everyone else :
- vote on sundays (yay, no need to create a holiday)
- vote for one thing at a time. Like when you vote for a presidential election, you only vote for a presidential election. I've seen your ballots and they look like something a engineer would have trouble filling. Put x names (where x is the number of candidates) + 1 blank, use paper only (computers tend to crash) and there you go : 5 minutes, no mistakes and everyone is happy.
I doubt it would make a difference if the voting did become a holiday. It would just give people an excuse to do other things beside voting. (Holiday shopping, seeing a movie, having a get together, fixing a door handle, stacking quarters, filing old mail, lounging, erasing computer porn, etc.)
I've never waited in line at a polling station, and my city has 300,000 people in it. The US should really look to other countries on how to run elections (among other things).
You don't need a holiday to vote, but if you were to get rid of an existing one, I don't see an issue with that. More polling stations would be a good start.
Iowa has a state law stating that anyone that wants to vote, their employer must ensure they are off work for at least 3 consecutive hours while the polls are open.
Where I work this effects 1 shift, they are given the opportunity to request the additional 1 hour off they need and the company is forced to pay them their regular wages.
Seems reasonable, except Iowa also offered early voting and there are always absentee ballots, so it doesn't make a whole lot of seince anymore.
Ever hear of someone having to work two jobs, and perhaps on top of that, spending a lot of time commuting? For some people, it is quite seriously impossible to find time to vote. And even for people who work 9 to 5, they might have to get their kids ready for school in the morning, or have a long commute, or both, and in the few hours they might have after work (if their commute isn't too long) who knows what could come up?
Election Day should be a stress-free day, when you can wake up, have a good breakfast, think about some of those ballot initiatives some more, have one last talk about the candidates and issues with your family, neighbors, friends, and then get together as a town to vote.
You can make arrangements to vote other than the actual election day, you know.
People at my work do a lot of traveling and they have all made arrangements to vote.
The only people we should try to get even with...
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
I don't believe I am incorrect, but my main question has not been answered. What is the opposition to a longer election period? Someone mentioned earlier that we already have early voting, so why not turn election day into election two days or three days? The only plausible consequence of such a decision would be a higher turnout. If I'm right, the turnout would be far higher. If you're right, there would still be a higher turnout, albeit less high. This is the most important act a citizen in this country can take; what's the opposition to making sure everyone can vote? What's the downside? I don't believe this is necessarily your viewpoint, but I think the viewpoint of many is that a higher turnout, particularly those voters who would turnout, may lead to different election results than the norm.
But I ask again, what could be the downside to that? It's voting, a citizen's solemn and dutiful act; let's make it big, and let's take every precaution to ensure everyone who wants to vote can vote.
I don't see a downside with placing better enforcement for those who have employers who frown upon voting time-off (as is currently). My point is everyone should be able to vote and then go back to work. I don't think it's necessary to have extra days off or even "extra hours" off, that's all. Only use what is needed. We have a system in place now, that should work.
You (and a few others) said that some can't afford to take off that hour because they work hourly. Well, think about this... should the government be paying for people's gas? In rural areas, people drive sustantial distances and probably "pay" a lot more than urban individuals in order to vote. I don't think the government should pay for gas and I don't think the government should give a day off.
Moreover, the point that giving a day off would solve the "hourly pay" issue you presented doesn't make sense because if you give the day off.... those people making NOTHING!
All elections in Australia are held on a Saturday. But at the same time it doesn't take 8 hours to vote either. I've voted in a about a dozen elections and it's never taken me more that 15 minutes to vote in any of them. Most of the time I'm in and out in 5 minutes.
Why does it take so long to vote in the states? Is it the amount of polling booths per head of the population? Does the paperwork for each person take for ever?? I'm really interested to know.
our elections are usually held on a week day but I agree... I've never queued... in and out just like that. However, I lived in Dublin but was registered to vote in Cavan (so I could vote on my own local elections... but I changed that the last couple of years to make it easier) so it would take two hours to get to the booths but I NEVER had a problem with an employer not letting me leave early to vote. I'm sure it's illegal in ireland for them to stop you anyway.
Anyway, I'm sure rhino surprise can clarify but I think the booths were open from about 7am til 10pm... so there's NO issue.
The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Native Americans were the first humans on this continent. The Vikings soon after.
Celebrating the dates of when and where people found new places to reside is rather silly.. IMO.
Then you would agree that celebrating a holiday in which you thank the help of a race/population which was in turn practically exterminated is rather silly?
Cincinnati '03 Flooded venue!
Bridge School '06 Night 1 & 2
Venice '07 pummeled by the sleet!
Nijmegen '07
Werchter '07
April Fools ~ LA1
Comments
Spot on right here, for some people they're tied up with working hours, children and so on that limits the amount of time they have to stand in line to vote. In past elections I believe many who have had to wait many hours simply give up. However in this apparent historic election many are making the sacrifice to be a part of it no matter what.
My sister and I are getting up a 5:am Tuesday morning and vote even though I can take as long as I want to get my vote in. Not everyone has that kind of circumstance.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
He didn't discover America either.
The Vikings are believed to have discovered what is present-day Canada long before any European endeavors reached the "New World."
And some anthropologists believe that Chinese explorers may have landed in South America, as Mayan calendars bear a striking resemblance to Chinese calendars. Also, some of their artwork depicts men with beards, yet Mayan men could not grow beards.
http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
Celebrating the dates of when and where people found new places to reside is rather silly.. IMO.
What I don't understand is why the US doesn't do like everyone else :
- vote on sundays (yay, no need to create a holiday)
- vote for one thing at a time. Like when you vote for a presidential election, you only vote for a presidential election. I've seen your ballots and they look like something a engineer would have trouble filling. Put x names (where x is the number of candidates) + 1 blank, use paper only (computers tend to crash) and there you go : 5 minutes, no mistakes and everyone is happy.
I completely agree.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
You don't need a holiday to vote, but if you were to get rid of an existing one, I don't see an issue with that. More polling stations would be a good start.
Where I work this effects 1 shift, they are given the opportunity to request the additional 1 hour off they need and the company is forced to pay them their regular wages.
Seems reasonable, except Iowa also offered early voting and there are always absentee ballots, so it doesn't make a whole lot of seince anymore.
You can make arrangements to vote other than the actual election day, you know.
People at my work do a lot of traveling and they have all made arrangements to vote.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
I don't see a downside with placing better enforcement for those who have employers who frown upon voting time-off (as is currently). My point is everyone should be able to vote and then go back to work. I don't think it's necessary to have extra days off or even "extra hours" off, that's all. Only use what is needed. We have a system in place now, that should work.
You (and a few others) said that some can't afford to take off that hour because they work hourly. Well, think about this... should the government be paying for people's gas? In rural areas, people drive sustantial distances and probably "pay" a lot more than urban individuals in order to vote. I don't think the government should pay for gas and I don't think the government should give a day off.
Moreover, the point that giving a day off would solve the "hourly pay" issue you presented doesn't make sense because if you give the day off.... those people making NOTHING!
Anyway, I'm sure rhino surprise can clarify but I think the booths were open from about 7am til 10pm... so there's NO issue.
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Then you would agree that celebrating a holiday in which you thank the help of a race/population which was in turn practically exterminated is rather silly?
Bridge School '06 Night 1 & 2
Venice '07 pummeled by the sleet!
Nijmegen '07
Werchter '07
April Fools ~ LA1