Make Election Day a Federal Holiday.

Election Day should be a Federal holiday. A democracy cannot long survive without an interested and informed electorate. And an interested and informed electorate cannot be sustained when so many remain disenfranchised. If even one citizen is unable to exercise the vote because of his job, that is one citizen too many. And there are many more than one. Polls open too late, or they close too early, or lines are so long, people turn away to get to work. This is unacceptable. Business leaders may object, fearing a loss of productivity, but the benefit to the nation will be immeasurable. It is past time to make clear that we value the right to vote as much as we honor late presidents in February and give thanks in November. Election Day should be a Federal holiday.