Deputy Transportation Minister (Likud) Tzipi Hotevely feels that something must turn to increase voter turnout in the next election and she believes that by declaring Election Day a national holiday, voter turnout will increase dramatically. The final number for nationwide voter turnout is 42.6% of eligible voters. Tel Aviv only managed to attract 24% of the eligible voters to get out and vote and in Yerushalayim that number is slightly over 30%.
Using her Facebook page to get her message out to the people, Hotevely explains if the municipal election was a state holiday; the voter turnout would be significantly higher.
In response to her posting, one fan wrote “I am not sure declaring a holiday will get the voters to vote. Most people are simply sick and tired of the corruption and the system.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
There is plenty of time in the day to vote. In Canada, even on National Election Day, it is not a Legal holiday. One votes before work, on the way to work, after work. And an employer is legally bound to give an employee time to vote. But they don’t need the whole day. They just need to sacrifice a little time in front of the television to go vote.
Besides, I think the chareidim are the proof. They don’t have time off from learning even on a Knesset Election Day. But they make time to vote. If someone is motivated to vote, he’ll get there.
However, for most people, what’s the difference.