Every day, people engage in small acts of democracy. On Change.org, millions of users do that by signing petitions to drive change in their communities. On November 5, 2024, Americans will come together for one of the most significant acts of democracy: casting their vote.
But the reality is far too few U.S. citizens exercise their right to vote. Voter turnout in the U.S. has consistently been among the lowest of established democracies globally.
In order to build better democracies, we must remove the barriers that keep citizens from voting. That's why Change.org is asking Congress to make Election Day a Federal Holiday.
According to a 2022 YouGov poll, nearly half (48%) of Americans said they didn't vote in the 2022 elections because they were too busy. With in-person voting required in some states and polls closing as early as 6 PM local time, people with childcare responsibilities, non-traditional hours, or long shifts may not arrive at their voting location in time or at all.
In 2020, only 62% of people of voting age turned out to cast a ballot in the Presidential Election. Compared to 50 other countries with developed economies and democratic traditions, the US ranks 31st in voter turnout. The vast majority of countries that outperform the U.S. vote on a weekend or national holiday.
Making election day a federal holiday has wide support from Americans across the political spectrum with 72% favorability. An Election Day holiday has been included in two pieces of legislation that have passed the U.S. House of Representatives, but none have reached the desk of the President. Now is the time to change that.
Everyone benefits when we all take an active role in shaping our society. Let's make it easier for citizens to participate in our democracy by making Election Day a federal holiday.
What can you do?
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