Make Election Day a permanent non-instructional day

By Solomon Ni and Olivia Roark     10/29/24 10:51pm

Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors. 

Back in 2022, as Jones College’s New Student Representatives, we presented one of our first Student Association Senate resolutions to President Reggie DesRoches and other university leaders, asking them to designate Election Day as a non-instructional day. This resolution aimed to eliminate barriers to voting and promote civic engagement, recognizing that the right to vote should not come at the cost of academic performance. 

In February 2023, the Faculty Senate took a critical step in the right direction by granting students a non-instructional day for this year’s upcoming presidential election. On Nov. 5, the Rice community will have time to come together for a day of civic engagement, with block parties during the day and watch parties during the evening. Instead of having to fit voting in between classes, students will be able to vote anytime between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., ideally mitigating historically long lines at certain times of day. However, this policy currently only applies to the 2024 academic year. To allow for continued commitment to civic engagement, we need to make this change permanent.

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Texas has consistently imposed significant obstacles to voting, particularly for college students. The state has closed hundreds of polling sites, and counties with large universities have seen a decline in polling location availability, forcing voters to travel farther and wait in longer lines. Additionally, Texas does not allow no-excuse absentee voting, further restricting access. Nationally, the U.S. has one of the lowest voter turnout rates among developed democracies, with youth turnout lagging even further behind the average. 

One reason that turnout lags is simply a lack of time, especially for students and low-income individuals who may have highly restrictive school and work schedules. By permanently recognizing Election Day as a non-instructional day, Rice can help address these barriers within our community. While this is just one small step in the broader fight for equitable access to voting, it would be directly beneficial for years to come.

Peer institutions such as Columbia, Brown and Stanford have already designated Election Day as a permanent holiday, removing academic pressures that might prevent students from participating in elections. While we understand that some faculty members may be concerned about the potential disruption to class schedules, this change would actually serve to balance the fall and spring academic calendars. Because the fall semester is slightly longer than the spring semester, a permanent class-free civic engagement day in November would lead to the fall and spring semesters having roughly the same number of days of instruction.

Rice has a responsibility to prepare students for lifelong civic engagement. Voting is a fundamental aspect of democratic participation, and by setting aside time to prioritize it, Rice sends a powerful message that civic duties are as essential as academic ones. Making this policy permanent would reflect Rice’s mission to cultivate well-rounded leaders who are not only trailblazers in the classroom but also active participants in society. This institutional support for voting would help foster a culture of civic involvement that students carry with them long after graduation.

The first-ever non-instructional Election Day in 2024 is a great first step, but it shouldn't be the last. Rice’s Faculty Senate must make Election Day a permanent non-instructional day at Rice University. In an era when voting is increasingly under duress, it’s more important than ever for Rice to protect students' ability to participate in our democracy. The change would affirm our community’s commitment to fostering active, informed and engaged citizens who can make their voices heard. 

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