Restore Trust in Elections: Make Election Day a Holiday
Contributed by Dana Raffaniello
Trust is the cornerstone of democracy. Yet reforms meant to expand participation mass mail‑in ballots, extended deadlines, and unsecured drop boxes have eroded confidence instead. These measures rely on messy voter rolls and weeks of counting that fuel suspicion.
Globally, most democracies reject this path. France banned mail‑in voting in 1975 after fraud. Mexico, Brazil, and Russia prohibit domestic mail‑in voting entirely. Nations that allow absentee ballots restrict them to military, overseas citizens, or disabled voters, with strict ID. The U.S. model of mass mail‑in voting is an outlier, and prolonged timelines undermine legitimacy.
Alaska proves the point: with fewer than 300,000 ballots, six weeks of counting is unnecessary. The better path forward is simple: keep absentee ballots for necessity, end mass mail‑in voting, require Election Day deadlines, and make Election Day a national holiday. Participation rises, trust is preserved, and democracy is strengthened.