The European Parliament voted 410 to 192 in favor of abandoning daylight saving time, the biannual tradition of changing the time on clocks across by one hour, with a planned implementation in 2021.
The vote, though not binding, will drive the discussion among European Union member states about abandoning the practice going forward. EU law currently requires all members to move the observed time back one hour in the fall and ahead one hour in the spring.
Most U.S. states also follow daylight saving time, with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii. In recent years there has been a push in other states to move away from the system, which originated as a way to extend light during the summer hours to save electricity.
Lawmakers in states across the U.S. are beginning to sour on the idea. So far this year, legislators in 26 states have introduced bills looking to make the time permanent. Federal law allows individual states to make the determination, unlike the EU.
President Trump signaled support in for ending the practice, tweeting this month: “Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!”
Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2019
