PTO to vote

Platapus · 11-06-16, 07:23 AM

http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/05/pf/c...day/index.html

Quote:

November 8 will be a paid holiday for workers at General Motors (GM), Ford Motor Company, (F) Square (SQ), Hearst Publishing, Patagonia, mattress company Casper and digital media company Thrillist.

And there are hundreds more too. Kudos to them.

In the US, election day is not a federal nor a state holiday. I think it should be. The alternative would be to move it to the weekend.

But Kudos for these companies taking the initiative and helping their employees vote.

The company I work for doesn't, but then we don't get a lot of holidays anyway. Anyone else's company close up on election day or are allowed to leave work to vote without being docked pay?

Oberon · 11-06-16, 07:34 AM

Good moves indeed, good on them.
I think Australia have the right idea where it's a requirement to vote rather than a request. However, I think that if you were to make it a requirement then you should also put a 'None of the above' option.

My company doesn't close on election day...being in the hospitality industry it doesn't really close at all.

Platapus · 11-06-16, 08:56 AM

It would be nice if voting were mandatory if

1. The voters have ready access to vote
2. There is a "none" option
3. The rules are changed to require a majority instead of a plurality to be elected. Of course that could run into endless run-offs.

It would be interesting to see how this could work in the US.

fireftr18 · 11-06-16, 07:52 PM

Our city offices were closed, but of course, the fire dept can't close. We were given two hours to take off to vote. Most of us just voted on our way to work and didn't have to worry about it. I normally arranged to have someone from a previous shift stay until I got there. I usually got to work about 15 minutes after shift change and no one cared. In return, I understood that I should be the one to stay for someone else.

Rockstar · 11-06-16, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Good moves indeed, good on them.
I think Australia have the right idea where it's a requirement to vote rather than a request. However, I think that if you were to make it a requirement then you should also put a 'None of the above' option.

My company doesn't close on election day...being in the hospitality industry it doesn't really close at all.

That is what I would call a useless beuracracy. A government law, job and or function created out of thin air making mandatory the the filling out (in triplicate Im sure) and filling a piece of paper so it can filed under "none of the above". When a person can simply just stay home and get on with his life.

on the other hand just think of all the goverment jobs that could be created to collect, file and maintain all that paperwork.

razark · 11-06-16, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

...just think of all the goverment jobs that could be created to collect, file and maintain all that paperwork.

As one who literally creates paperwork for the government, I fully support this plan.

Rockstar · 11-07-16, 07:01 AM

what happens when "none of the above" voters are two thirds of the majority?

Oberon · 11-07-16, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

what happens when "none of the above" voters are two thirds of the majority?

Good question, perhaps the idea would be that the incumbent stays in and the two parties have to pick another candidate/mandate and run again.

Jimbuna · 11-07-16, 10:17 AM

I'd feel a sense of pity for my American cousins were faced with mandatory voting....especially this time round when I consider the two main contenders.

Rockstar · 11-07-16, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Good question, perhaps the idea would be that the incumbent stays in and the two parties have to pick another candidate/mandate and run again.

Ugh I can only imagine the fracas that would sweep across the country allowing a president to govern beyond 8 years. But I suppose to prevent citizens getting rebellious and all voting 'none'. We could make it law that the 'none' vote would not actually count as a vote, that would work. Unless of course the voter belonged to a political party then said party could claim a certain percentage of the a none vote to put their candidate in the lead. Wow the possibilities are endless think how many laws we could create too , our government would certainly need to grow to satisfy the will of the people. So lets hop on the bandwagon lets begin the bureaucratic nightmare of making voting mandatory. Lessee how could we enforce this? Hmmm, I know lets get the supreme court and IRS involved then we could make it legal to penalize and mark those non participants in this grand government plan for (some of) the people.

August · 11-07-16, 01:49 PM

Forcing people to vote seems to me to be antithetical to the concepts of freedom and liberty. What's next, forcing them to buy goods from a private company? Oops they already do that and call it Obamacare.

Rockstar · 11-07-16, 04:56 PM

I feel as though that for 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 24 years I did my part in helping defend and protect our constitution. I'm retired now if you need me break glass in case of emergency and I will answer the call no matter who the president is YOU voted in.

have a nice day.

Oberon · 11-07-16, 08:59 PM

There are some days when I'm pretty sure I'll never understand America.

Then again, to be fair, from what I've seen...many Americans feel the same way.

11-06-16, 08:56 AM	#3
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	It would be nice if voting were mandatory if 1. The voters have ready access to vote 2. There is a "none" option 3. The rules are changed to require a majority instead of a plurality to be elected. Of course that could run into endless run-offs. It would be interesting to see how this could work in the US. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-06-16, 07:52 PM	#4
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Our city offices were closed, but of course, the fire dept can't close. We were given two hours to take off to vote. Most of us just voted on our way to work and didn't have to worry about it. I normally arranged to have someone from a previous shift stay until I got there. I usually got to work about 15 minutes after shift change and no one cared. In return, I understood that I should be the one to stay for someone else. __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

11-07-16, 10:17 AM	#9
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I'd feel a sense of pity for my American cousins were faced with mandatory voting....especially this time round when I consider the two main contenders. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

11-07-16, 01:49 PM	#11
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Forcing people to vote seems to me to be antithetical to the concepts of freedom and liberty. What's next, forcing them to buy goods from a private company? Oops they already do that and call it Obamacare. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

11-06-16, 07:34 AM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Good moves indeed, good on them. I think Australia have the right idea where it's a requirement to vote rather than a request. However, I think that if you were to make it a requirement then you should also put a 'None of the above' option. My company doesn't close on election day...being in the hospitality industry it doesn't really close at all.

11-07-16, 07:01 AM	#7
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	what happens when "none of the above" voters are two thirds of the majority?

11-07-16, 04:56 PM	#12
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I feel as though that for 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 24 years I did my part in helping defend and protect our constitution. I'm retired now if you need me break glass in case of emergency and I will answer the call no matter who the president is YOU voted in. have a nice day.

11-07-16, 08:59 PM	#13
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	There are some days when I'm pretty sure I'll never understand America. Then again, to be fair, from what I've seen...many Americans feel the same way.