Can't Vote, Have to Work?
I’ve just realised that election day in the US is not a public holiday.
That strikes me as very odd.
In Kenya, not only is it a public holiday, but the day is timed so that people can have ample time to travel significant distances just in case they need to do so in order to cast their vote. That is why it’s usually at the end of the year, after Christmas.
Frankly, it never occurred to me that election day anywhere in the world would not be a public holiday.
Doesn’t that make it harder for some people to vote than others? What if you’re a student and you have an exam on election day and you’re in one of those states where voting only takes place on election day? Or what if you’re working a twelve hour shift that day?
I mean, I know about essential services.
But.
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7 Other Thoughts:
And that is why you could vote almost 2 weeks before the election day!
There would be a storm here if people only had one day to vote.
Aco. But aren't there some states where there's no early voting? I thought I read that somewhre.
It's very easy. Many people can vote within walking distance of where they live - e.g. local primary schools - regardless of where they are originally from. Kenya is a very different context with people driving all the way across the country to vote "at home." In the US, if you don't happen to be where you are registered to vote, you can ask for an "absentee ballot."
Many vote on their way to or from work. Most work places are pretty lenient on people coming in late or leaving early to vote. Though in some areas, transportation to and from the voting venues has to be arranged.
Once you cast your vote, what are you going to do? Sit around and watch TV all day? The talking heads aren't going to tell you anything you haven't already been hearing for the last year of campaigning.
Results don't start pouring in until the evening. Have an evening celebration or pity party with like-minded friends; within a few hours it's usually done. People on the East Coast just have to decide whether they are going to stay up later to wait for the final results, or whether they will find out when they wake up in the morning - if it's close (then there was 2000).
Ben, thanks. Sounds like voting is walk in walk out but the media seems to be reporting it elsehow, like folk have been queueing for hours to vote. Which is the more common scenario in your experience?
Okay, I did a little Googling (no TV) and I see what you mean. Local areas organize their own elections, and some jurisdictions sound like they aren't very organized - not enough booths etc.; Florida comes up a lot. I noticed how one guy in Georgia says he wishes he had voted "back in New York" where he used to be - and there weren't the same kinds of problems.
I'm guessing the vast majority of America is probably not having the types of problems reported by say CNN. I'm sure there are very long lines in some places, but a wait of over an hour is probably newsworthy. Take this quote:
"Burk said waits of 35 or 45 minutes were reported at most locations early on, but they were down to about 15 minutes in the afternoon." (Obviously part of the early vote.)
There can be rush hour, but of all the times I voted in the past (Illinois and DC), I was in and out - 15 minutes max. Every place is different; or maybe life in America has radically changed in the five years I've been gone.
What do I know?
Oh, I see. thanks. To have that perspective helps. I so wasn't getting it.
may I add that I absolutely envy the 15 minutes tops in and out. Sigh. I'm sure you've heard you share of Kenyan stories so I'll leave it at that. Sigh.
Well, this won't be the first time I've been wrong. ;-). "Unprecedented turnout; people lining up at 3am" Even my old DC is reporting lines.
On the other hand, a friend of mine in New England just voted in 5 mins.
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