[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW:
  S. 726. A bill to treat the Tuesday next after the first Monday in 
November as a legal public holiday for purposes of Federal employment, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that would make Election Day a national holiday.
  After the problems of the 2000 elections, a bipartisan Commission 
headed by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford was created to 
recommend election reforms.
  Among the reforms the commission recommended was making Election Day 
a national holiday.
  If you read the report, the advantage of making Election Day a 
national holiday becomes obvious.
  In a survey done by the U.S. Census shortly after the 2000 elections, 
the number-one reason cited for not voting was because it conflicted 
with work or classroom schedules. Declaring Election Day a national 
holiday would make it easier for millions of busy Americans to get to 
the polls.
  But declaring Election Day a national holiday has other advantages as 
well, according to the Commission's report. More public buildings, 
especially schools, would be available as polling places. And more and 
better trained poll workers would be available to staff polling places.
  Businesses complain that a new Federal holiday will cost them money. 
But this problem can be easily solved. Presently we celebrate Veterans 
Day on Nov. 11. On even numbered years, we could simply celebrate 
Veterans Day on the second Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 
which Congress has designated as Election Day for Federal elections.
  The Commission's report noted that both Presidents Ford and Carter 
are veterans themselves and would not recommend any change that would 
dilute the significance of Veterans Day.
  Rather, our two former Presidents found it fitting to hold the 
``supreme national exercise of our freedom on the day we honor those 
who preserved it.''
  This idea is also supported by civil rights, labor and other groups 
trying to increase participation in our electoral process.
  I think it is an idea whose time has come.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this legislation be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 726

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Democracy Day Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF ELECTION DAY IN SAME MANNER AS OTHER 
                   FEDERAL HOLIDAYS.

       The Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2004 
     and in each even-numbered year thereafter shall be treated as 
     a legal public holiday for purposes of statutes relating to 
     pay and leave of Federal employees.

     SEC. 3. STUDY BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF IMPACT ON VOTER 
                   PARTICIPATION.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a 
     study of the impact of section 2 on voter participation.
       (b) Report.--Not later than May 1, 2009, the Comptroller 
     General shall submit a report to Congress and the President 
     on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TREATMENT OF DAY BY 
                   PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.

       It is the sense of Congress that private employers in the 
     United States should provide their employees with flexibility 
     on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 
     2004 and in each even-numbered year thereafter to enable the 
     employees to cast votes in the elections held on that day.
                                 ______