Ever woken up on a Tuesday in November and wondered why you’re still dragging yourself to the office? It’s a weird American quirk. We’re told that voting is the "sacred duty" of every citizen, yet we’re expected to squeeze that duty in between a 9-to-5 shift and picking the kids up from soccer practice. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess.
If you’ve ever sat in a three-hour line at a polling place while checking your work email, you’ve probably asked: why is Election Day not a federal holiday already?
It seems like a no-brainer. Most other developed democracies—think France, South Korea, or Germany—either vote on weekends or make their election days national holidays. But here in the U.S., we’re still operating on a schedule set back in 1845. Back then, it took a full day of travel by horse and buggy to get to the county seat. Lawmakers picked Tuesday because it didn’t mess with the Sabbath or market day (Wednesday).
Times have changed. The horses are gone. The buggies are SUVs. But the Tuesday tradition? That’s stuck like glue.
The 1845 Hangover: Why Tuesday still reigns
To understand why we don't have a holiday, you have to look at the Presidential Election Day Act of 1845. Congress wanted a uniform day for the whole country so people wouldn’t cross state lines to vote twice (election fraud isn't a new concern, apparently). They chose the "Tuesday after the first Monday in November."
Why? Because farmers were the priority.
Monday was a travel day. Sunday was for church. Wednesday was for selling crops. Tuesday was the sweet spot.
But here is the kicker: Congress has the power to change this. They just haven't. Since the mid-1800s, the demographic makeup of the country has shifted from rural farmers to hourly workers and office employees. For a modern worker, Tuesday is literally the worst day of the week to get anything extra done.
The "Cost" of a Day Off
When the conversation shifts to making it a federal holiday, the first thing people bring up is the economy. It’s always about the money.
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Critics, often from the business sector or conservative think tanks, argue that a federal holiday is basically an unfunded mandate on the private sector. If the government shuts down for a day, it costs billions in lost productivity. According to some older estimates from the Office of Personnel Management, a single federal holiday can cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions just in lost labor time for federal employees.
But let’s be real. Banks close. The post office stops. But does the world end? Probably not.
Retailers and restaurants usually stay open on federal holidays like Veterans Day or Presidents' Day. In fact, they often have sales. So, the "economic collapse" argument feels a bit thin to a lot of people. Still, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has to score these bills, and the price tag is often what kills them before they even get to a floor vote.
It’s not just a holiday—it’s a partisan battlefield
Politics. Everything in D.C. eventually comes down to which side thinks they’ll win or lose based on a rule change.
There is a long-standing belief—though political scientists like Sean Trende have debated how true it actually is—that higher voter turnout favors Democrats. Because of this, Republicans have historically been more skeptical of "Election Day Holiday" legislation.
Take the For the People Act of 2021. It was a massive piece of voting rights legislation that included making Election Day a federal holiday. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell famously called the idea a "power grab" by Democrats. He argued that it was an excuse to give federal employees more paid time off.
On the flip side, Democrats argue that the current system is a form of indirect voter suppression. If you’re an hourly worker who can’t afford to lose a shift, or if you don’t have a flexible boss, you’re effectively being taxed to vote. That’s the "time tax."
Why a holiday might not actually solve the problem
Here is a hot take that some voting experts, like those at the Brennan Center for Justice, often point out: making it a holiday might not actually help the people who need it most.
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Think about it. Who gets federal holidays off?
- Bankers.
- Government workers.
- Corporate office staff.
Who doesn't get federal holidays off?
- Grocery store clerks.
- Bus drivers.
- Hospital staff.
- Gas station attendants.
If we make Election Day a holiday, the people with the most privilege—those who likely already have flexible jobs—get a day off. Meanwhile, the service industry stays open. In fact, if Election Day becomes a "sale" day like Labor Day, those workers might actually have a harder time getting to the polls because their shifts will be busier.
This is why many experts argue that Early Voting and Mail-in Ballots are much more effective than a single-day holiday.
What are the alternatives?
Since the federal government hasn't moved the needle, states are taking matters into their own hands. It’s the "laboratories of democracy" at work.
Some states, like Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, have already declared Election Day a state holiday. In these places, state offices are closed, and some employees get paid leave.
Other states focus on different solutions:
- Time off to vote laws: Most states (around 30) have laws that require employers to give workers time off to vote. In places like California, you can get up to two hours of paid time off if you don't have enough time outside of working hours.
- The Weekend Vote: There have been various "Weekend Voting Acts" introduced in Congress. The idea is to move the election to Saturday and Sunday. This would avoid the whole "holiday cost" argument while naturally opening up time for more people.
- Automatic Registration: If the goal is turnout, making the act of voting easier is often seen as more vital than just giving a day off.
The Private Sector is Stepping In
While Congress bickers, the private sector is sort of doing its own thing.
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You’ve probably heard of Time To Vote. It’s a nonpartisan coalition of over 2,000 companies—think Patagonia, Levi Strauss, and PayPal—that have committed to giving their employees the time they need to vote. Some give the whole day. Others just promise no meetings on Tuesday afternoon.
It’s a corporate trend that’s gaining steam. For many businesses, it’s a branding win. It shows they care about "civic engagement" without having to wait for a law to pass.
Is there a chance this changes soon?
Honestly? Not in the immediate future.
With the current polarization in Congress, a standalone bill making Election Day a federal holiday faces an uphill battle in the Senate. It requires 60 votes to clear a filibuster, and right now, the two parties don't even agree on how people should be allowed to vote, let alone when they should get a day off for it.
The trend seems to be moving away from the "one big day" model and toward "Election Month." With the massive rise in mail-in voting and early voting sites, the importance of that specific Tuesday is technically shrinking. If you can vote on a Tuesday three weeks before the election, the need for a national holiday on the final day becomes less urgent for some voters.
Actionable Steps for the Busy Voter
Since you probably won't be getting a federal holiday this coming November, you need a game plan. Don't let the "Tuesday trap" stop you from having your say.
- Check your state's "Time Off to Vote" laws: Go to your Secretary of State's website. Know your rights before your boss tells you that you can't leave. Most states require you to give your employer notice (usually 2 to 3 days) if you need time off to vote.
- Request a Mail-in Ballot early: This is the ultimate "holiday" hack. You can vote at your kitchen table on a Sunday morning. No lines, no boss, no stress.
- Look for Early Voting windows: Many states open polls two weeks early, including weekends. If you work a standard work week, hitting the polls on a Saturday morning is way easier than a Tuesday lunch break.
- Verify your registration now: Don't wait until November. Every year, people get to the polls only to find out they were purged from the rolls or moved and forgot to update their address.
- Volunteer as a Poll Worker: If you do happen to have the day off, or your company offers "VTO" (Volunteer Time Off), consider working the polls. Most precincts are desperately short on staff, which is why the lines get so long in the first place.
Why is Election Day not a federal holiday? It’s a mix of 19th-century farm schedules, 21st-century economic fears, and a healthy dose of partisan gridlock. It’s frustrating, sure. But in the meantime, the power still sits with the people who manage to show up, holiday or not.