Why US Elections Are Held On 1st Tuesday Of November
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
Image: Reuters
For decades, elections in the United States have been held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Why this date?
Image: AFP
Election days in the US varied by state until 1845, when a law was passed to set a single election day for the entire country
Image: AFP
Early November was considered a good time for polls because the harvest was over, but the weather was still relatively mild
Image: AFP
Tuesday was selected as the first and most convenient day of the week to hold elections
Image: AFP
Most Americans were farmers at the time the federal law was passed, Tuesday in November worked best with the planting season
Image: AFP
Tuesday gave US citizens enough time (one day each way) to travel to the polling stations and back
Image: AFP
As for Sunday, it was impractical because most Americans attended church
Image: AFP
If people couldn't use Sunday or Wednesday as their travel day, that meant election day couldn't be on Monday or Thursday, either
Image: AFP
Wednesdays were market days for farmers, which made things impractical. So, Tuesday was chosen, and it stays until today
Image: AFP
Tuesdays are not the best day for voters in the current context, when farming is no longer the main occupation
Image: AFP
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