Lawmakers look to move Election Day
Photo: Courtesy of the York Daily Record
(Harrisburg) — The first Tuesday in November would no longer be Election Day under legislation pending in the state House.
The bill would change Election Day to the weekend after the first Friday in November, mainly as a way to boost voter participation.
Representative Kevin Boyle says there is no longer a need to hold elections on a Tuesday.
“It was established in the 19th Century when we were a more rural society. The sabbath was on Sunday and market day in rural areas was on Wednesday,.. so they made election day on Tuesday,” he said.
Boyle says only 55 percent of eligible voters participated in the last Presidential election, with a 35 to 40 percent turnout in this year’s primaries.
Companion legislation at the federal level has been introduced by Boyle’s brother, US Congressman Brendan Boyle.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
