Election Day should be a holiday

Election day should be a holiday—a celebration of democracy, not a day of despair or divisiveness. Democracy is messy, contentious, and yet every year, on the first Tuesday in November, we the people cast our votes and make our voices heard. Let’s celebrate that.

On election day, all schools should shutter—not just the ones used for polling places, but also pre-schools to med schools. Banks, stock markets—closed. Businesses—convenience stores, retailers, factories—take the day off. Basically everybody, except for critical utilities and medical facilities—we all get the day to make good on our privilege, as citizens of a democratic republic, to vote.

Remove the competing obligation of work so that it’s easier for everyone to get to the polls. Don’t make a job a barrier to voting. Don’t make voting an afterthought after work. Instead, once you’ve cast your ballot, get together with your friends and family, share a meal, sit on the stoop, toss a frisbee or a football, or drink a beer or three. Together. As a neighborhood. As a nation.

Two more rules to round out our celebratory election day:

First, no campaigning on election day. No signs outside a polling place, no TV or radio ads, no social media posts, no last-minute posturing, no flesh-pressing. The candidates have made their cases. We the people have done our homework, and we’re prepared to make our own choices, without pressure from the politicians—in peace.

Second, no results until the next day. That’s right, media—put away your elaborate election night sets, and silence your “with one percent of precincts reporting, we’re prepared to pick a winner in this race.” No more of that nonsense. No, let every vote be counted. Announce the tallies the first Wednesday in November, at high noon. We the people have voted, and we’re okay to wait ’til Wednesday to find out who our next probate judge or president will be.

If we want to change the narrative in America, let’s get back to basics. Let’s remind ourselves that we the people, each and every one of us, has a voice and a vote. Cast that vote, then celebrate it. Election day should be a holiday.