Should Election Day Be A National Holiday?
An email from Brookings Institution Press: A new book proposes making Election Day a national holiday to reverse the low rate of American voter turnout. “Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation and What We Can Do About It” (Brookings Institution Press) by Stephen Macedo and a team of leading political scientists explores why Americans have lost interest in public affairs. One of their solutions: declare Election Day a holiday or move elections to the weekend to increase participation.
According to the authors, citizens are not entirely to blame. The political system itself is responsible for making participation difficult – long presidential primaries, uncompetitive congressional elections, and excessively nasty and ideological partisan politics combine to turn people away. The system itself blocks possibilities for greater involvement, sharpens economic disparities, and discourages attention to campaigns and important political issues.
The low voter turnout expected in this off-year election is one of the symptoms of our democratic decline. American voter turnout ranks near the bottom among democratic nations. And we’re less engaged than previous generations. Since the 1970s, participation in political activities such as writing letters to the editor, attending rallies and demonstrations, and volunteering in campaigns has declined more than 50%. Since the 1960s, the nation has also witnessed increasing inequalities among local communities, and a two-thirds decline in civics courses in public schools.
“Democracy at Risk” shows why these trends are occurring and offers suggestions on how to improve the quality, quantity, and distribution of civic engagement. The authors focus on three key areas for reform: the electoral process, including political campaigns and subsequent elections; the American metropolis, as well as demographic changes and evolving development patterns; and the critical role of nonprofit organizations, voluntary associations, and the philanthropy that helps keep them going.
Recommendations include using nonpartisan commissions to establish electoral boundaries; enforcing fair housing laws and revitalizing local politics; more adequately funding national service programs and placing greater emphasis on teaching civics in schools.
For more information on “Democracy at Risk,” go to: http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/democracyatrisk.htm.