Lawmakers Consider Making Election Day a Holiday for College Students

House Bill 2167 would require all public institutions of higher education to observe an academic holiday for each general election day. (Photo by Pexels/Sora Shimaza)

Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation that would make it easier for college students to vote.

House Bill 2167 would require all public institutions of higher education to observe an academic holiday for each general election day.

Bill sponsor Representative Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, brought University of Tennessee senior Colby Norrod and two other students to the House Higher Education Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday to make the case for it.

Barrett said Norrod was involved in helping develop a policy at the University of Tennessee for an academic holiday during the November general election, and he brought the concept for the General Assembly to consider this year.

“I'm proud to be his vehicle to present this to you today that seeks to create a requirement for all public institutions in Tennessee of higher learning to have the same policy for an academic holiday for Election Day,” Barrett said.

Student Makes the Case

Norrod told lawmakers that Tennessee ranks among the lowest states for youth voter turnout.

“While 18 to 24-year-olds make up 20 percent of registered voters in our state, they make up 100 percent of our state’s future,” Norrod said.

He noted that election day falls on a school day and that, in 2024, 29 percent of young voters cited school and work conflicts as the reason they did not vote.

Norrod shared the story of a student-athlete from UT Southern who works two part-time jobs while pursuing an MBA. He claimed she must drive five hours round-trip from Pulaski, Tennessee, to Overton County to vote.

“That's a sacrifice that we're asking students to make, and they shouldn't have to choose between their education and getting to vote,” Norrod said.

He also said three out of five youth voters chose to vote in person in 2024, with the majority voting on election day.

“Casting your first vote is a milestone. I realized how easily that can be missed after missing my first primary election. Then I set out to change that,” Norrod said.

The Subcommittee’s Reaction

Several subcommittee members expressed admiration for Norrod’s efforts, including Representative Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, who joked about the impact a no vote might have. Baum serves as an economics professor at Middle Tennessee State University.

“Mr. Norrod, do you think if I opposed this bill, it would hurt my student teaching evaluations?” Baum asked.

“It might,” Norrod said. “Your Rate My Professor (rating) might go down a little bit.”

The subcommittee plans to schedule a vote on the bill during its next meeting.