Election day on a tuesday...

D_Jared Padalicki

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Hy peope from the USA, and off course the others too.

I was wondering something. When there are elections in Belgium, we have to vote in the weekend. But it's tradition there in the USA that you vote on tuesday. Do you guys and gals get free that day to vote or what else do you do?

Ciao
 

Principessa

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Hi people from the USA, and of course the others too.
I was wondering something. When there are elections in Belgium, we have to vote on the weekend. But it's tradition there in the USA that you vote on tuesday. Do you guys and gals get free that day to vote or what else do you do?

Ciao
In some states (New Jersey) Election Day is a holiday and all state workers are given the day off. It is not a federal holiday so everyone else works. Actually, it has become yet another excuse to have retail sales as all stores are open.

In the states where early voting was not an option and you must vote today the polls usually open at 6 AM or 7 AM and close by 8 PM or 9 PM.

This will probably sound very odd; but depending on the type of work you do, and how far from home you live it is feasible that unless you go to work late or leave early you will be unable to vote.
 
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flame boy

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In the UK you don't get a day off to vote however the voting stations are open from about 6am until approx 10pm so its likely you'll be able to spare 10-15 minutes to cast your vote.
 

EagleCowboy

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Over here, it really doesn't matter as too many people work the weekends. So it really doesn't matter what day it is, as long as we vote!! Plus, we have several days for early voting.

Myself, I just got back from voting the right way for the right candidate!!
 

Hockeytiger

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Almost no one gets the day off. The polls are normally open from 6 AM until 7 PM local (with a few exceptions). However, in almost all states you have the right to take time off of work to vote, but you have minor obstacles like having to give prior notice that you are taking time to do so, or proving that you did vote, or showing that you cannot vote before or after work. Also, you may vote absentee (before election day) if you can show that you can not make it to the polls on election day. Further, many states now allow you to vote early without excuse. That is likely to be extended to all states after this election.
 

B_Nick8

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Pieter, nj has a thread about the historical reason why it's on a Tuesday. We don't get the day off but in many states booths are open until 8:00 (like here in NY) or some until 9:00 and most open as early as 6:00 am so it's not that difficult to get there outside of working hours. There's a movement to change voting day to a weekend, though.

Check "Why We Vote on Tuesdays"
 
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