As republicans work to hamper voters, Biden proposal would flood polls on election day

[bigtree]

Link to tweet

Election Day should be a 'day off,' U.S. President Joe Biden says
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/election-day-should-be-day-off-us-president-joe-biden-says-2021-06-24/

[Wounded Bear]

1. K & R...long over due...nt

[H2O Man]

2. Recommended.

[MFGsunny]

3. BOY HOWDY!!!!!!! make it happen ..... n/t

[FreepFryer]

4. Fuck yes. Help us make it so, Joe! (Nt)

[Thunderbeast]

5. Oregon is a vote by mail state.

Can we have a "floating holiday" instead? Early November has poor weather and LOTS of days off school already.

I'll take an extra Labor Day thank you! Make it a four day holiday in states that don't even HAVE polling places

Come on, Joe....Work with us on this!

STATES RIGHTS TO VACATION DAY FREEDOM!

[mopinko]

6. it's not just about voters. it's also about election workers.

this will make running elections easier, too.
the pool of good workers gets a lot bigger, everywhere.

[True Blue American]

24. Amen on that!

As a former poll worker it is getting harder each year to get good poll workers.

[mopinko]

30. oh i know. worked a few elections myself.

being a poll worker is the price you pay for getting a favor from the alderman.
or a reward if you are really broke, but either way, chances are, you needed some help at some point.

[True Blue American]

34. I didn't. Signed up while voting.

They called, ask me to work. Of course a member of Council would call me from then on.

Small city, many of us know each other. And my Husband used to be on the Volunteer Fire Department many years ago as a Paramedic.

[mopinko]

42. yeah. not how it works everywhere. and i volunteered

but when you find yourself w a completely incompetent person, usually that's the story.
call the board of elections about them and hear- it's the committeeman's judge.

found out the hard way.

[True Blue American]

54. Oh, my buddy

Not good.

I was lucky because we all worked well together. The leader, a Republican and I worked as a Team, made sure the 2 of us handled problems.

I watched him call out my next door neighbor trying to change parties in the Primary. You can guess, he thought Obama was the weak candidate. Made him sign an affidavit. a retired Pastor in the, you guessed it.SB Church!

[mopinko]

59. you put those people next to the ballot box all day.

1st election i worked i had one of those. couldnt look up names. we just sat her there to thank folks.
worked w a lot of good people, but...
the chicago way.

[Thunderbeast]

68. There is not an army of election volunteers.

The county may hire a few temps, but all the counting and admin is done in one place.

There are NO polling places to staff!

[Qutzupalotl]

65. Fellow Oregonian here, speaking for myself...

I'd gladly forego a federal holiday for my state if it let more people vote in “red” states. Might turn them purple or even blue! (I know that's not how federal holidays work, I'm just saying.)

As other have pointed out, many people can't take the day off. However, millions can, and that will increase turnout even in the face of suppression tactics. I'm all for Biden's proposal, in addition to either Manchin's or the FTPA. Whatever we can get!

[GB_RN]

7. A Holiday Is Great And All

But there are lots of jobs where people CAN'T get a day off to go vote. Take my career field for example: Healthcare. Hospitals can't just shut down just because it's Election Day. I'm not making the argument that it shouldn't be a national holiday, so don't go flaming me. I'm just pointing out that it's not so simple for many people. Making absentee ballots easier to access would make voting a lot easier for a lot of workers.

[Bucky]

9. Sounds like you support the Joe Manchin proposal

What you're recommending is exactly what Manchin is asking for, which is what Stacy Abrams says she can work with.

[GB_RN]

31. What I Want Is The "For The People Act"

I was merely saying that just a national holiday isn't enough and that no-excuse absentee ballots need to be part of the solution. I probably didn't word it well, in hindsight.

[Scrivener7]

10. A holiday is great, no buts. Each solution doesn't have to be a solution for all people, and

when a solution is a solution for many people, we should all just appreciate it and not jump to the "but."

PS: I am in healthcare too. I benefit from this because it will enable a lot more people to vote. So I still win.

I would celebrate improved absentee ballot access equally for the same reasons.

[jaxexpat]

13. Election day as national holiday gives voting a new and very positive association.

Anti-people politicians have made the concept of a voter's holiday a taboo subject for, literally, centuries. Because they're anti-people people.

[Scrivener7]

14. I hadn't thought of that. You're right.

[COL Mustard]

58. Just Don't Enact It The Day Before The Election, Please

I’m all in favor of this, and not just for a day off. But please, pass this well in advance so that people can plan accordingly.

[csziggy]

22. If a Election Day holiday were combined with early voting

Then essential workers could vote early while people who do not have the option to take off any other day could vote on Election Day. Plus, I could see that if they had to pay time and a half for a holiday, employers would be much more willing to let workers take time to go vote.

I haven't voted on Election Day since they began early voting here in Florida - except for the year that I was in the hospital during early voting. I much prefer early voting, usually there are no lines, the polls are less crowded and the election workers are less stressed.

I agree with you that removing restrictions on mail in ballots would be good - when entire states use mail in ballots as their sole method, the objections to them are spurious and efforts to restrict them are voter suppression.

[True Blue American]

26. Vote absentee.

Last edited Fri Jun 25, 2021, 02:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Ask for a ballot from the BOE. Sent right out to you. You can even follow your ballot right to being counted.

[GB_RN]

33. I Do, And Did

I was merely trying to point out that for many people, making Election Day a holiday isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Especially in states where the GOPQ has now clamped down on absentee ballots, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible to vote that way.

[True Blue American]

35. I think Merrick Garland is going to stop them. The DOJ

Just sued Georgia. The other states will not be far behind!

[yellowdogintexas]

46. I am of mixed feelings. Making Election Day a holiday could increase voting

but in states with early voting (we have 10 days including a full weekend) folks have many opportunites to vote. Every election I get very angry because even with 10 days of early voting and a choice of locations to vote we still don't exceed 50%; (my county has 50 early voting locations and voters can go to any of them)

Expanding early voting and loosening up vote by mail would help a LOT

We can also vote at any polling place in the county on Election Day. This enables folks who can't get the day off to vote on their lunch hour because they don't have to go to their home precinct to vote. We have 300 polling locations open on Election Day.

Back in the day before early voting it would definitely have made it easier for some folks to vote.

[oldsoftie]

60. And even in THIS election only about 2/3 voted!

What the hell does it take for one to participate with a trump in office??

[KS Toronado]

8. This is the first step in a larger picture

Come midterms we can ask voters why their republican rep/senator voted against giving you a day off
(some with pay) to go vote. Basically making it easier to do your civic duty.

[Bucky]

11. We should also issue free Federal photo ID cards

States wouldn't have the power to reject them as valid voter IDs. You could Target communities where people have difficulty and getting valid voter IDs, funnel it through the Commerce Department (like the US census) or through HHS, have the registration teams with iPads that validate ID claims through state and federal databases.

The whole thing could be voluntary, so there's no "threat" of Big Brother or the Antichrist for the wingnuts to get excited about, and then you've insured no more legit voters can be thrown off the voter registration rolls

This would also make for a great spring and summer jobs program for 2022 to help boost the economy

[peggysue2]

17. Agreed!

Fight them where it counts. The ID rule is specifically targeting the poor and urban dwellers who don't have a driving license because they don't need or can't afford a vehicle.

Photo IDs to everyone free of charge would solve the issue and stop the continuous flapping of GOP mouths of 'illegal' voters (even though there's no evidence to support the accusations).

This would stop the constant haranguing during every election cycle.

Although I'm sure they'd come up with something else! That's the problem with the Republicans; you're always playing whack-a-mole.

[yellowdogintexas]

47. Texas's Voter ID Law was taken to court

One of the changes allows a person to bring some sort of official mail (utility bills, pay check envelope, bank statement) with same address as on their registration if they cannot obtain a voter ID.

The other big change extended the amount of time a photo ID could be expired from 60 days to 4 years.

We still did not get student IDs included as acceptable though

[andym]

23. This is a good idea as this would provide an alternative means of ID

that is far better than SS cards, etc. Could have encrypted info on them like in Europe to help make them difficult to fabricate

[DENVERPOPS]

29. Your idea of Federal ID's

made me smile........

Does anyone remember when the FBI raided one of Trump's Golf Resorts???? They found blank social security cards and a printing press being used by the manager of the club to make fake SS cards for the un-documented workers at the club?
Funny that we never heard anything about that after the seizure............

I am all for a Federal I.D. it would solve a lot of problems, but it would have to be instituted with excellent security......

[True Blue American]

55. 100%!

[oldsoftie]

62. GA issues free voter ID if you dont have a DL

Or you can get a State ID thats not a DL

[lark]

12. There needs to be a federal law that each state must provide equal opportunity to vote.

Can't have more per 1000 population for the rural set than they do the urban set. This alone would with same day voting would really help working people be able to vote and not stay in line for 7 hours. R's don't want to inconvenience their rural base or they will lose big time and they know it so make it that rural and urban have to be treated statistically the exact same way.

There also needs to be a federal law that no state can overturn ANY election results without providing VERIFIED PROOF of fraud. Without that, our democracy is already gone and going in numerous states. This is a survival issue for democracy.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. No, no, NO!

Making election day a holiday will just mean that all the millions of people who do not hold office jobs where they get weekends and holidays off will find it even harder to get to the polls. I'm just picturing the Election Day Blowout Sale! that a lot of retail places will have, requiring their workers to be there 12 hours.

Far, far better is the kind of advance voting that New Mexico does, with plenty of times and locations starting about six weeks before election day. Plus, you don't have to track down your precinct's obscure and hidden polling place (I'm looking at you, Arizona) but can go to any one of them in your county and they print up your specific ballot on the spot. No running out of ballots either, which is another disgraceful way of suppressing votes.

It's beyond obvious to me that those who propose election day as a holiday have never done shift work of any kind.

[wryter2000]

18. Both are needed

There are plenty of people with office jobs who could take advantage of this.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. And those people with office jobs can also take advantage of

good early voting.

States that are currently unenthusiastic about early voting will use a holiday as an excuse for no early voting.

Actually, the very best solution would be to send out mail-in ballots to all registered voters.

[ShazzieB]

27. Why are you assuming it has to be either/or?

It can be both! Make Election Day a holiday, AND provide plenty of early voting opportunities. That way, EVERYBODY wins!

Well, everybody except the rethugs who want to restrict voting. But that's a feature, not a bug. 😁

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. There are still states that don't have any kind of early voting,

other than perhaps an absentee ballot. Many of those states have Republican Governors or Legislatures and would gleefully use an Election Day Holiday as an excuse never to have early voting.

Yes, lots of early voting opportunities should be provided, but recently the trend is in reducing those opportunities. A national holiday would only provide them with a greater incentive to reduce early voting.

[druidity33]

41. Im a "shift worker" and i disagree...

sorry.

[yellowdogintexas]

48. County Wide voting at any open location is so awesome

We have 300 locations in Tarrant Co (Fort Worth); Harris County has 800 open locations on Election Day. Voters can go on line and find all the locations which are near their address; we can even find out the wait time. Also, Election Judges submit wait time data to the Elections office throughout the day, so if we are backed up we can redirect the voter to a less crowded location

[oldsoftie]

63. You make too much sense; away with you!!

Early voting is the key.
We dont need ANOTHER fed holiday.

[aggiesal]

16. It should be a PAID day off! n/t

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. And so all restaurants and retail stores and hospital ERs should likewise be closed

so that those workers can get that day off?

[aggiesal]

32. I've seen your previous post, and you know that just doesn't make sense ...

so you really shouldn't be pushing it.

It will be treated just like any other holiday, like the upcoming 4th of July.
Those employees will be paid time-and-a-half or double time and they can
either vote by mail or vote early.

Hospitals & Restaurants don't close for the New Years Day, Memorial Day,
4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

So I really don't know why you're having such an issue with something that
only happens every other year or in this case every 4 years.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

37. I think those who are pushing for an election day holiday simply don't

have a clue what it's like to be a shift worker. Yes, I know perfectly well that stores and restaurants and hospitals don't close for holidays, as well they shouldn't.

I happen to live in a state, NM, with incredibly good early voting. But too many states don't have that, and too many Republican run states are doing their very best to restrict all voting, early or election day. I honestly see an election day holiday as something that would simply give them cover to put in even more restrictions, such as cutting back even more on early or absentee/mail-in voting.

[Scrivener7]

38. I was a shift worker for many years. I think it's a great idea.

[aggiesal]

40. I went to school at NMSU and lived in Las Cruces with my parents until I graduated in 84. n/t

[KPN]

19. Absolutely! What could be more patriotic

than that?

[AllaN01Bear]

25. yess.

[LittleGirl]

28. I really prefer mail-in voting

I can be an informed voter by doing the homework of the candidates at home. In my time.
I can vote from home and mail- in or drop off. Easy peasy.

[Scrivener7]

39. Why not both?

[OMGWTF]

43. A better idea is to have 100% mail-in voting.

The military has done this for centuries and now five states do, too. It’s safe, secure, and there are no lines or pesky electronic vote-stealing machines.

[Blue Owl]

50. That would be awesome... let's keep pushing for it!

[bucolic_frolic]

44. It's not a perfect solution

and perhaps not a very good one. Fewer poling places, fewer election workers wanting to get involved, more people wanting to vote, long lines. The system will be overwhelmed. Some will leave.

[SayItLoud]

45. Biggest fear of the GQPers....but

Biden can make it a holiday for Federal workers.

[Blue Owl]

49. Let's take the wind out of those fucking GOP sails

[andym]

51. Free national ID card and national holiday-- great ideas

that will do alot to undo the GOP efforts to suppress voting.

[soldierant]

52. Has anyone besides me ever worked for a low hourly wage,

like in a call center?

If Election Day becomes a holiday, then, like every other holiday, people who need funds the most will volunteer to work it, even extra shifts, if it is time and a half or better. Others, equally struggling, will be forced to work it, even with no extra pay. And those people are in our demographic.

I'm nor saying don't do it - but it absolutely is not a cureall. We need every possible provision to make voting accessible, especially to people in the most need. Early voting, mail-in voting, plentiful drop boxes, giving rides, everything - we need ALL of it.

[True Blue American]

56. Yes, many would love

the $100 they pay. Many retirees work for the extra money. It is a long, hard 15,16 hour day but the money would come in handy, plus doing right for their Country.

[soldierant]

67. Perhaps I wasn't clear.

What I meant twas that many most vulnerable would work at their reguar jobs, which would make it impossible to come to the polls. Because they would feel compelled to do so.

Being a poll worker is not comparable. I've done that too. If you are a poll worker, where I have worked, it, you are expected to vote early because you may not be able to spare the time on election day.

[Midnight Writer]

53. We should just schedule Voting Day on Veteran's Day, November 11.

It would be simpler to move the Voting date than create a new Holiday.

[True Blue American]

57. That would be perfect.

[oldsoftie]

61. Sorry, no. Not yet ANOTHER federal holiday

If you want to legislate something then make early voting happen in every state. Problem solved
We have weeks of early voting, weekend voting, absentee voting. We dont need a day off to vote. If you're in one of the states that have all this and you're STILL not voting, YOU are the problem

[FakeNoose]

64. Germany holds elections on Sundays, when 95% are off work

How sensible is that? How stupid are we, not to do the same?

[jaxexpat]

66. That's because they're godless teutonic barbarians!

and socialists too.