Have you wondered why elections are held on Tuesday in November? The answer may surprise you.
Americans first began the custom of weekday voting in 1845 when Congress passed a federal law designating the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as Election Day. Before then, states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 24-day period before the first Wednesday in December. However, Congress soon figured out that early voting results could affect turnout and sway opinion in states that held late elections, and the last-minute voters could potentially decide the outcome of the entire election.
In the 1800s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place. Since people often had to travel at least a day to vote, lawmakers needed to allow for a two-day window for Election Day. Since people spent Sundays at Church, and Wednesday was the market day for farmers, Congress selected Tuesday, since it was the most convenient day of the week to hold elections. Farm culture also explains why Election Day always falls in November. Spring and early summer elections were thought to interfere with the planting season, and late summer and early fall elections overlapped with the harvest. In November, the harvest was complete, and the harsh winter weather had yet to come.
