The Great Clock Shift: Who Really Wants Daylight Saving Time?

Thu Oct 30 2025 20:19:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As America prepares to turn the clocks back this Sunday, a new poll reveals widespread opposition to daylight saving time. Why do so many want to stay on one time year-round?

This weekend marks the end of daylight saving time, a tradition many Americans dread. A recent AP-NORC poll shows that only 12% of adults favor the time change, with 47% opposed. As clocks spring forward and fall back, most people prefer permanent daylight saving time for more evening light. From L.A. to New York, hear voices from those both for and against, as well as the surprising history and empty promises of past legislation attempts to change the system.

This weekend, Americans will mark the end of daylight saving time by turning their clocks back an hour. But for many, this change is much more than just an extra hour of sleep — it’s a source of frustration.

According to a new AP-NORC poll, a mere 12% of U.S. adults approve of shifting time two times a year, indicating that most would rather stick to one consistent time throughout the year.

As residents across the nation prepare for this transition, some like 31-year-old Pranava Jayanti from Los Angeles, find the shift particularly challenging. Having grown up in India, where the clocks never change, he found the sudden darkness a jarring adjustment when he moved to the U.S. for graduate school.

The debate over daylight saving time is heating up again, as several voices including the American Medical Association advocate for a permanent time option, either sticking to standard or daylight saving time year-round. Those who prefer daylight savings argue vehemently for more evening light, while a significant portion of the population favors staying on standard time for brighter mornings.

For those under 30, indifference seems prevalent with 51% saying they neither favor nor oppose the practice. However, as age increases, opposition mounts. If given the choice, over 56% would choose to keep daylight saving as the permanent time. Yet, the conversation surrounding time changes touches on deeper societal values and personal preferences that reveal differing lifestyles and habits.

History shows the U.S. grappled with permanent daylight saving time during the 1970s, but with unpopularity prevailing, the practice was quickly dropped. It poses an interesting question: What would you prefer, permanent daylight saving time or standard time? The clock is ticking!