Lawmakers Delay Proposal To Make Election Day A Holiday

SACRAMENTO (CBS13/AP) — Lawmakers voted Thursday to delay the proposal to make Election Day a statewide holiday.

The Assembly Appropriation Committee voted to delay the action for a year.

Assemblymember Evan Low introduced AB 177 in January. He asked the legislature to add the statewide general election to the list of state holidays. The statewide general election is required to happen the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.

If the statewide general election does get added to the list of state holidays, community colleges and public schools would be required to close. State employees, with specified exceptions, would get time off with pay.

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Backers argued the bill could have boosted voter turnout.

But legislative staffers estimated providing a day off or overtime to state employees would have cost California's government tens of millions of dollars.

California law already requires employers to give workers who do not have time to vote before or after their shifts up to two hours off with pay to cast a ballot.

Colorado lawmakers this year also considered a turn Election Day into a holiday. But that measure did not pass.

Currently public schools are required to close on the following holidays:

• January 1 (New Year's Day)
• The third Monday in January, or the Monday or Friday in the week which January 15 (MLK Day) occurs
• The Monday or Friday of the week in which February 12 (Lincoln's Birthday) occurs
• The third Monday in February (Washington's Birthday)
• The last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
• July 4
• The first Monday in September (Labor Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)
• The fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving)
• December 25 (Christmas)
• All days appointed by the Governor for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday, and all special or limited holidays on which the Governor provides that the schools shall close.
• All days appointed by the President as a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday, unless it is a special or limited holiday.
• Any other day designated as a holiday by the governing board of the school district.

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Currently community colleges are required to close on the following holidays:

• January 1 (New Year's Day)
• The third Monday in January (MLK Day)
• February 12 (Lincoln's Birthday)- if that day falls on a Tuesday school may close Monday or Friday
• The third Monday in February (Washington's Birthday)
• The last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
• July 4
• The first Monday in September (Labor Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)- if that day falls on a Tuesday school may close Monday or Friday
• The fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving)
• December 25 (Christmas)

Currently state employees are entitled to the following holidays:

• January 1 (New Year's Day)
• The third Monday in January (MLK Day)
• The third Monday in February (President's Day)
• March 31 (Cesar Chavez Day)
• The last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
• July 4
• The first Monday in September (Labor Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)
• Thanksgiving
• The day after Thanksgiving
• December 25 (Christmas)
• The day chosen by an employee
• Every day appointed by the Governor of this state for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday.