Third Congressional District Rep. Dean Phillips (DFL-Deephaven) announced Jan. 28 that he will co-sponsor H.R. 294, the Election Day Holiday Act.

In a press release, his office described Election Day as the most important day of the year in a democracy and said that establishing it as a federal holiday would ensure that more Americans have the time they need to vote.

“The right to vote is fundamental to citizenship, and Election Day is the most important day of the year to our democracy,” Phillips said. “Our government is at its best when we all participate, and I’m on a mission to bring more people to the table. Fears about loss of wages or employment should not be a barrier to voting. As elected leaders, making it easier for Americans to vote should be our goal, and this would be an important step forward.”

Minnesota’s Third Congressional District had the highest voter turnout in the country during the 2018 midterms, with 73 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots on or before Election Day.

“I’m proud to represent such an engaged community and to support legislation that will encourage communities across the country to get out and exercise their right to vote,” Phillips concluded.

The Election Day Holiday Act is authored by Rep. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18) and is also part of the sweeping campaign finance, ethics and election reform bill, H.R. 1, which Phillips co-sponsored on his first day in Congress.