WATCH>> Al Franken and Norm Coleman Debate Tuesday Voting on YouTube

A version of this post is published on Why Tuesday? as well as OffTheBus.

Minnesota has some of the highest voter participation in the United States. Now both candidates for Senate there are talking about improving voter participation nationwide, thanks to a YouTube political initiative.

Last week, I submitted a video question via YouTube's YouChoose08 to Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Al Franken. I wanted to know what they would do to increase American voter participation, which ranks near the bottom of all countries in the world. I asked specifically about the Weekend Voting Act, which has been introduced into the House by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) and into the Senate by Sen. Herbl Kohl (D-WI).

Franken: "I think voting on the weekend is a great idea, even though that means standing up to the powerful Tuesday lobby."

Coleman: "I think we're going to do OK, even if we keep voting on Tuesday."

Click here to watch Sen. Coleman's full response.

Click here to watch Al Franken's full response.

If you're curious, Franken says hi to my mom in the video because in our original video question, I mention my mom is a native Minnesotan.

Still don't know why we vote on Tuesday? Here's the answer.

Why Tuesday? is an effort to make America's democracy stronger through increased voter participation; we work to make election reform an issue that our politicians cannot afford to avoid. Read more campaign coverage from OffTheBus by clicking here.

Follow Jacob Soboroff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jacobsoboroff

Comments

[ramblingjohnny]

I have a hard time taking Al seriously since every time I see is face all I can think off his sat helmet gag from SNL.
http://toddcop.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/snluplink2.jpg

[buggedabouttheus]

I think Saturday voting is easier. Most local elections in my state are held on Saturdays it is easy to place voting on your Saturday to do list.

[Liberoservative]

I don't know how Min voting laws work, but in SC you can always opt for absentee balllot and send in your vote whenever you please....

So, if Tuesday doesn't work for you, then ask for an absentee ballot and send it in....

Just hope the you are sending it in for Franken and Obama!

[Soundofthunder]

We, as a nation, have a long standing tradition of standing in line on Tuesday to vote, a right that our cherished troops are bleeding and dying for as I type with my several fingers (I have all my fingers, it's just not all of them know how to type). If we abolish the inconvenience of voting on Tuesday, all those lives shall have been lost in vain. Besides, it's not like we could amend the Constitution to permanently move Election Day to the first Saturday in November. That would require a vote, and of course that vote would take place on a Tuesday.

SOT

[MNmommy]

Can I just say how much we need to vote Coleman out of office and return this particular senate seat back to someone that can represent Paul Wellstone in the manner that he should be?

I cannot stand Coleman, but just like the presidential election - this senate election is not and will not be the slam dunk that it should be. C'mon my fellow Minnesotans - WAKE UP!!!

[GuidedByEwoks]

Well, Coleman would have supported it, when he was a Democrat. Now he's a Republican and anything that may actually increase voter turnout is scary stuff. As you can see, Coleman can not give a single logical reason to keep it on Tuesday. They do seem to be framing the issue as if changing from Tuesday would be a loss of our cultural heritage. Give me a break (from voting on Tuesday)!