If I were an elected official, I'd jump on this idea in a heartbeat. Somebody should.

Congressional Democrats in Washington suggested making the day of the presidential election a national holiday, allowing workers to get a paid day off and plenty of time to cast votes. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell was horrified, announcing immediately that any such proposal would never get a hearing while he was in charge.

He called the idea, "A power grab," but neglected to explain exactly who was grabbing what power.

I think the power would go to voters, a no-excuses incentive to cast ballots for the candidates of their choice.

But, you see, here's McConnell's problem.

Too many government employees are Democrats. Or so he says. It is likely many low-income workers, those who can't take time off to vote, would probably vote Democrat. He prefers they lose money if they don't work a full day, even if that leaves no time to go to a polling place.

Across the country Republican-dominated legislatures, complicit with Republican party structures, have been seeking ways to keep Democrats home, especially in November 2020. Georgia arbitrarily struck thousands of people off voting lists because proof of their citizenship wasn't found in official records. Didn't mean they weren't citizens. In fact, later research showed most were, but their rights haven't been restored yet.

Some states are requiring all sorts of official documentation and lengthening waiting lines at polls in places that traditionally vote Democratic. Still others, including New Jersey, are still dithering about whether to open polls earlier or expand voting hours.

In some states voting takes place over an entire week, while others - like New Jersey - limit voting to a few hours during a single day, no matter the weather.

A push a few years ago expanded vote-by-mail opportunities in our state and mail-in ballots did increase. But in some areas they're still thought of as "absentee ballots" and carry the whiff of fraud. One North Carolina county raised that stink level a bit last year, as its Congressional election is still undecided while ballots are being scrutinized.

In McConnell's home state of Kentucky, presidential election day is already a half-holiday. Government workers work only half the day but are paid for a full day.

However, McConnell's reaction was, "Just what America needs. Another paid holiday and a bunch of government workers being paid to go out and work, I assume (for) our colleagues on the other side, on their campaigns. This is the Democrat plan to restore democracy? A brand new week of paid vacation for every federal employee who'd like to hover around while you cast your ballot?"

I assume what sparked McConnell's ire was the proposal also allowed government workers several days off to help at polling places. For either party.

Another paragraph would eliminate gerrymandering, which both parties seem to love dearly, but only the party in power gets to use.

Even though the proposal would apply to only government employees, there'd surely be a push by unions and other worker groups to extend the voting day holiday to other businesses. Happening only once every four years, it wouldn't hurt anybody's bottom line very much.

Anything that encourages voter turnout is a good thing. The 2018 midterm election saw a greater proportion of Americans participate than any midterm election in decades. Nevertheless, more than half of eligible voters stayed home. With so much at stake in every presidential election, everyone who can vote should vote. It's a duty and an obligation, but It's also an honor. We don't have to make it an expensive chore.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

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