Pollster says Election Day won’t be a federal holiday until GOP, Dems agree to increase turnout

Pollster Mallory Newall said in an interview that aired Tuesday on “What America’s Thinking” that Election Day will not become a holiday in the U.S. until voters agree on the need for increasing turnout from both parties. 

“I don’t see it happening,” Newall, research director at Ipsos Public Affairs, told Hill.TV’s Joe Concha, when asked if Election Day in the U.S. would ever become a federal holiday. 

She pointed at the differences both parties have related to voting and how it would be difficult for the parties to come together on a consensus on the top priorities.

“When I was on the show recently, we took a look at another poll about what people think is the biggest problem related to voting, whether it’s voter fraud or something else, and people are split,” she continued, referring to an American Barometer survey conducted last month. 

The poll found that 51 percent of respondents said voter suppression was a bigger issue, while 49 percent said voter fraud was. 

The survey also saw a split along party lines, with 72 percent of Republicans polled saying voting illegally is a larger problem, while 71 percent of Democrats polled said the same thing about voter suppression. 

“You have a near-majority of Republicans saying that voter fraud is a bigger issue, so I think until it changes [to] where a majority of Americans across the party lines can get on board with wanting to increase turnout, and giving people more time to vote, I don’t see it happening,” she continued. 

A new American Barometer survey found that 54 percent of voters said they thought Election Day should be a federal holiday. 

— Julia Manchester