What if? It's the basis of many stories. We ask. We ponder. We wonder.
On Tuesdays I throw one out there. What if? It may be speculative. It may stem from something I see. It may be something I pull from the news.
Make of it what you will. If a for instance is not specified, interpret that instance as you wish. And if the idea turns into a story, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements 😉
It's election day here in the U.S. (We do mail in ballots in California now, so some of us have already voted.) I know this idea has come up a few times (and I'm short of ideas)...
What if election day was a national holiday?
Hmm, holiday means travel to me, and it would be a day off town and without election...
ReplyDeleteWhat if everyone hand to use a mail in ballot? I don't see anything wrong with election day being a national holiday, although I think they should move it to August. We need a holiday in August.
ReplyDeleteWe do need a holiday in August. Badly. In California, we now have the mail in option, and I like it. I don't know if having to mail it in is great, though.
DeleteThe more working people would have a chance to vote. Conservatives would never allow it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that, in many countries, their national voting day is a Sunday but our country went in a different direction back in the 19th century, when federal election dates were codified by Congress. Our "first Tuesday after the first Monday in November"law for Federal elections has an interesting history and nothing in those laws prevent that day from being a national holiday. (Non-federal election dates s generally follow the Federal laws, I believe, more out of convenience than anything else.) I don't think the national holiday would ever happen - businesses and other interests would not be happy about the national holiday aspect and having to pay employees for an additional day off.
ReplyDeleteIt would make it easier for some to vote, so of course it wouldn't happen.
DeleteOne hell of a crappy holiday.
ReplyDeleteWe do mail in here but only when someone requests it so there's no fraud.
It's easier when everyone can.
DeleteFor state governments that would be another paid holiday
ReplyDeleteBut that would be a good thing, right?
DeleteWhy would that be a holiday. Most people don’t even realize what a privilege it is to vote. I can’t believe that lying dumbnut, Walker, is leading, albeit slightly, in the votes. He has outright lied and as stupid as a fly on a piece of dung. I just shake my head.
ReplyDeleteMake it a holiday so people don't have to try to juggle their workday with getting to the polls. It would make it easier for some.
DeleteWe do mail in here. Some years its hard, as a result, to remember the actual election day, when they count them. I voted over ten days ago here. The only difference election day is they count them.
ReplyDeleteIt's annoying to have sent in your ballot only to have the commercials still airing. At least for me. But mail in is a new option for us.
DeleteFestival season and holidays are not good time for elections, since there is a good possibility that people aren't in town.
ReplyDeleteMail-in option is good. In India, we don't have that. Only on the day of voting, you can vote, that too physically at the voting center.
There are postal ballots though. But that's only for people who have government jobs and are posted outstation.
I wonder, is it not time that there is an option to vote remotely electronically? I know there are issues of privacy and hacking, but I guess, we have enough technological safeguards against them.
It’s long overdue! Maybe it will get more people to vote. About 23% of registered voters bothered to return their ballots in our county.
ReplyDeleteAh, this reminds me of the time my husband's business flight got delayed. He stepped into a bar for a relaxing drink. The beautiful woodwork emanated a warm glow, the shelves laden with a plethora of tasty bourbons. Alas, it was election day in that state and alcohol couldn't be served. Why the place bothered to open, the sympathetic bartender wondered as well. He (half) jokes that was a taste of hell. lol And the law seems a bit antiquated. I wonder if it's still the case.
ReplyDeleteThat... Some states *shrugs*. Another blogger was talking about limited alcohol sales, and I just thought about the booze aisle at the grocery stores here. (I don't partake, so walking down those aisles is always a strange experience.)
Delete