[Vision2020] Voter turnout

[Rob Keenan]

That's an interesting idea, but I think it would have the opposite effect.
Considering young voters are going to end up working those holidays as
corporate America rolls out the newest mattress sale ("Savings like these
come along only once every four years!"), they won't be able to make it to
the polls. And then there's the older voters, thrilled by a new day to sleep
in, who won't make it to the polls, either.

As it is, people can get to the polls before or after work while they're
already out and about. People DON'T, but that's because they're lazy. Giving
them eight hours off to take care of a 20-minute task seems a little silly.
Plus -- if it's a national holiday, who's going to count the ballots?

Not that I'd mind getting my Election Day cards ... I can see the verse now:

"Donkeys are brown, Elephants grey; It's time to get Bush out of office
today! Wishing you and yours the very merriest of Election Days ..."

ROB
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen@moscow.com>
To: <DonovArn@aol.com>; <fueledbyramen@hotmail.com>; <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:51 AM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Voter turnout


> One idea that was mentioned a number of years ago to increase voter
turnout
> was to declare federal election days as national holidays.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>