Why Federal Elections are Held on Tuesday

Of course, every day is a good day to exercise our freedom, but why do we always vote on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November? Under a law enacted in 1845, the day designated as Election Day for choosing elected federal government officials is set as â€Å"the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November† or the first Tuesday after November 1.† This means that the earliest possible date for federal elections is November 2, and the latest possible date is November 8. For the federal offices of President, Vice President, and members of Congress, Election Day occurs only in even-numbered years. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, in which electors for President and Vice President are chosen according to the method determined by each state as required by the Electoral College system. Midterm elections for members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate are held every two years. Terms of office for persons elected in federal elections begin in January of the year following the election. The President and Vice President are sworn in on Inauguration Day, typically held on January 20. Why Congress Set an Official Election Day Before Congress passed the 1845 law, the states held federal elections at their discretion within a 30-day period before the Wednesday in December. But this system had the potential to result in electoral chaos. Already knowing the election results from states that voted in early November, people in states that did not vote until late November or early December often decided not to bother to vote. The lower voter turnout in late-voting states could change the outcome of the overall election. On the other hand, in very close elections, states that voted last had the power to decide the election. Hoping to eliminate the voting lag problem and streamline the entire election process, Congress created the current federal Election Day. Why a Tuesday and Why November? Just like the food on their tables, Americans can thank agriculture for an Election Day in early November. In the 1800s, most citizens — and voters — made their living as farmers and lived far from the polling places in cities. Since voting required a day-long horseback ride for many people, Congress decided a two-day window for elections. While weekends seemed a natural choice, most people spent Sundays in church, and many farmers transported their crops to market on Wednesday through Friday. With those restrictions in mind, Congress chose Tuesday as the most convenient day of the week for elections. Farming is also the reason for Election Day falling in November. Spring and summer months were for planting and cultivating crops, late summer through early fall were reserved for the harvest. As the month after the harvest, but before the snows of winter made travel difficult, November seemed the best choice.   Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday? Congress wanted to make sure the election never fell on the first of November. November 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church (All Saints Day). In addition, many businesses tallied their sales and expenses and did their books for the previous month on the first of each month. Congress feared that an unusually good or bad economic month might influence the vote if it were held on the 1st. But, that was then and this is now True, most of us are no longer farmers, and while some citizens still ride a horse to vote, travel to the polls is far simpler than in 1845. But is there, even now, a single better day to hold a national election than the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November? School is back in session and most summer vacations are over. The closest national holiday -- Thanksgiving -- is still almost a month away, and you dont have to buy anybody a gift. But the runaway best all-time reason for holding the election in early November is one Congress never even considered in 1845. Its far enough from April 15 that we have forgotten about the last tax-day and havent started worrying about the next one. Bottom line? Any day is a good day to vote.