Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. Among registered voters in the 2016 US presidential election, being "too busy" or having a conflicting schedule was the third-highest reason cited for not voting, accounting for 14% of registered voters who did not cast a vote (about 2.7 million people). A holiday would allow more citizens volunteer at polling places or drive the elderly to vote, and make a difference in states where long lines at the polls keep voters waiting for hours.

Question

Making Election Day a national holiday will increase voter turnout by enabling more people to vote. In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. Among registered voters in the 2016 US presidential election, being "too busy" or having a conflicting schedule was the third-highest reason cited for not voting, accounting for 14% of registered voters who did not cast a vote (about 2.7 million people). A holiday would allow more citizens volunteer at polling places or drive the elderly to vote, and make a difference in states where long lines at the polls keep voters waiting for hours.

Passage 2:

Making Election Day a national holiday would not make a difference. The people who aren't showing up are just too lazy or uninterested in government to make an effort. Most people who don't vote feel that their vote doesn't count, so why bother? Until we end the corruption in our elected officials, people just aren't going to be motivated to vote. In addition, even if we made Election Day a national holiday, there are still plenty of people who would still have to work (hospital workers, retail and restaurant workers, etc).

Which passage provides more sound arguments?

Custain in RARE response. (4 points)

Answer 1

The second passage provides more sound arguments.

In the first passage, the argument is supported by statistical evidence regarding the number of people who cited being "too busy" as a reason for not voting. It also highlights the potential benefits of a national holiday, such as enabling more citizens to volunteer at polling places and addressing long lines at the polls. The reasoning in this passage is logical and appeals to practical considerations.

However, the second passage lacks strong supporting evidence for its claim. It relies on generalizations and assumptions about the laziness and lack of interest in government among non-voters. The statement that most people who don't vote feel that their vote doesn't count is subjective and lacks empirical evidence to support it. The argument also dismisses the potential impact of making Election Day a national holiday, without considering the positive effects it could have on increasing voter turnout.

Overall, the first passage presents stronger arguments by relying on data and providing logical reasoning, while the second passage lacks substantial evidence and relies on broad assumptions.