Senator Stabenow Introduces Election Day Holiday Legislation

S. 726. A bill to treat the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November as a legal public holiday for purposes of Federal employment, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that would make Election Day a national holiday.
After the problems of the 2000 elections, a bipartisan Commission headed by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford was created to recommend election reforms.

Among the reforms the commission recommended was making Election Day a national holiday.

If you read the report, the advantage of making Election Day a national holiday becomes obvious.

In a survey done by the U.S. Census shortly after the 2000 elections, the number-one reason cited for not voting was because it conflicted with work or classroom schedules. Declaring Election Day a national holiday would make it easier for millions of busy Americans to get to the polls.

But declaring Election Day a national holiday has other advantages as well, according to the Commission's report. More public buildings, especially schools, would be available as polling places. And more and better trained poll workers would be available to staff polling places.

Businesses complain that a new Federal holiday will cost them money. But this problem can be easily solved. Presently we celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11. On even numbered years, we could simply celebrate Veterans Day on the second Tuesday after the first Monday of November, which Congress has designated as Election Day for Federal elections.

The Commission's report noted that both Presidents Ford and Carter are veterans themselves and would not recommend any change that would dilute the significance of Veterans Day.

Rather, our two former Presidents found it fitting to hold the "supreme national exercise of our freedom on the day we honor those who preserved it."

This idea is also supported by civil rights, labor and other groups trying to increase participation in our electoral process.
I think it is an idea whose time has come.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of this legislation be printed in the RECORD.