Why are US presidential elections held on a Tuesday in November?

For much of early American history, US federal elections were a chaotic affair. States were left to set their own election dates, which led to them being spread out over different times across the country. This all changed in 1845 when US Congress decided to standardise the election process, choosing a single day for elections nationwide.

Why was Tuesday chosen as voting day?

The decision was largely influenced by the societal norms and logistical needs of the 19th century. At the time, the United States was predominantly an agrarian society, with farmers comprising a majority of the workforce.

The choice of early November was practical — harvest season was over, but the weather had not yet turned harsh, making travel to polling places manageable.

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Religion also played a significant role in the decision. Sunday was universally reserved for church and rest, which ruled out Monday as an election day since many voters would need to travel significant distances to reach polling stations.

In rural America, where the nearest polling place might be several miles away, travel could take a day or more, especially in an era before automobiles. As US Senate Historian Don Ritchie told NPR, “People would have to travel to the polls in their buggies on Sunday, the Sabbath.” Additionally, Wednesday was market day for many communities, making it another impractical choice.

Thus, Tuesday emerged as the most suitable day, allowing for travel on Monday and ensuring that voters could return home by Wednesday. Congress further specified that Election Day would be held on the Tuesday “after the first Monday” in November, a decision influenced by both religious observance — All Saints’ Day falls on November 1 — and the financial practices of the time, as merchants often settled their books on the first day of the month.

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But aren’t we in the 21st century now?

While Tuesday was a practical choice in 1845, the modern world presents a different reality. Today, less than 2 per cent of Americans work in agriculture, and the needs of a largely urban and industrialised population differ greatly from those of the 19th century.

Critics argue that the tradition of Tuesday voting is now more of a hindrance than a help. NPR quoted Rep. Steve Israel, a New York Democrat, who has voiced concerns that “the world has moved on, and so Congress should also move on and make it easier for people to vote.”

Indeed, the inconvenience of a Tuesday election is often cited as a major factor in the United States’ low voter turnout rates compared to other developed nations. Data from the US Census Bureau shows that about 25 per cent of non-voters cite being too busy or having a conflicting schedule as their reason for not voting.

Jacob Soboroff of the organisation “Why Tuesday” has called the tradition “ridiculous” and “absurd,” arguing that there is “absolutely no good reason whatsoever to vote on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.”

Why can’t voting be held on the weekend?

Efforts to move Election Day to a more convenient time, such as the weekend, have been ongoing for years but have met significant resistance. Steve Israel has repeatedly introduced bills to shift Election Day to the weekend, though these efforts have consistently stalled in Congress.

For the 2024 United States presidential election, Election Day remains scheduled for Tuesday, November 5.

There are also proposals to make Election Day a federal holiday, a move that some believe would increase voter participation by giving people the day off to vote.

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Currently, only 29 states and the District of Columbia have laws giving voters time off to vote, and just 23 of those states require employers to pay for that time. States like Delaware, Hawaii, and New York already observe Election Day as a holiday, but this is far from a nationwide practice.

Opponents of weekend voting argue that logistical challenges, such as keeping voting equipment secure and recruiting poll workers for weekend shifts, make the idea impractical. Additionally, there is no guarantee that changing the day would significantly boost voter turnout, as many Americans have simply grown accustomed to the tradition of Tuesday voting.

Wait, what is “Super Tuesday” then?

The term “Super Tuesday” refers to a key day in the US presidential primary season when multiple states hold their primaries simultaneously. The concept gained prominence in the 1980s, though it was first used in 1976 when primaries were held in six states on the same day.

The term became widely recognised in 1980 when Democratic strategists moved the primaries in three Southern states — Alabama, Florida, and Georgia — to the same Tuesday, creating a significant momentum-building event for candidates. “Super Tuesday” now serves as a critical juncture in the race for the presidential nomination, often influencing the outcome of the entire election season.

What now?

Despite the challenges and the changing needs of the American electorate, the tradition of Tuesday voting persists. As Ritchie points out, “We’re a very traditional country, and that became a tradition in a lot of ways.”

So, while the reasons for Tuesday voting may have made sense in the 19th century, they are increasingly questioned in today’s world.

Yet, for now, the tradition endures.

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