COLUMBUS, OH (WOWO) An Ohio lawmaker is proposing to make Election Day a state holiday in an effort to encourage voter participation and reduce work-related barriers to casting a ballot.
State Senator Kent Smith of Euclid introduced Senate Bill 335 in December, which would designate the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as “Democracy Day.” Smith says the proposal is intended to help voters who struggle to find time to get to the polls due to job obligations.
Ohio state employees, including public school staff and court workers, are generally entitled to paid time off on officially recognized state holidays. Private employers would not be required to provide time off, though some choose to do so voluntarily.
Smith argues the timing of the proposal is significant following recent changes to Ohio’s election laws. In December, Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation requiring absentee ballots to be received by county boards of elections by the time polls close on Election Day, eliminating a previous four-day grace period. Exceptions remain in place for military and overseas voters.
According to the Movement Advancement Project, 14 states currently recognize Election Day as a holiday, with five also requiring paid time off for workers. Seventeen additional states mandate paid time off for voting even if Election Day is not a holiday.
Ohio law already requires employers to provide a “reasonable amount of time” for employees to vote, though it does not define Election Day as a holiday.
Data from Ballotpedia shows Ohio’s average voter turnout from 2002 through 2024 was 55.6 percent, above the national average of 52.4 percent. Smith says making Election Day a holiday could further reinforce civic participation and serve as a teaching opportunity for children.
The bill currently has four Democratic co-sponsors. Smith says he believes bipartisan support is possible, noting that several Republican-led states have adopted similar policies.
Senate Bill 335 is awaiting a committee assignment and its first hearing, according to reporting by WCMH.
