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This petition was submitted during the 2017 to 2019 Parliament

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

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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.

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.

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10,000

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  • Petition closed

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 6 November 2019.