Petition Change Election Day to the weekend to make voting more inclusive

Everyone being able to vote – ‘universal suffrage’ – is a foundation of a functioning democracy. However, many people struggle to vote in the current UK system as we hold elections on a day which is a working day for most people – a Thursday.

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Holding elections on a Thursday excludes many people who would otherwise be able to participate. For example, those who work full-time and who have caring responsibilities or need to travel significant distances to vote may not have time to vote, or to queue to vote.

The UK is one of the only countries in the world to hold elections mid-week, without a public holiday. In 1918 the UK voted on a Saturday.

Changing the day in legislation would make voting more inclusive for more people.

This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website

16 signatures

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10,000

Date closed 6 November 2019
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