A look at the voting tradition in the US

LOS ANGELES – Election Day in the US traditionally falls on a Tuesday in early November, a practice that began in the mid-19th century. But why Tuesday and why November? As Americans prepare to vote on November 5 for the next president, the rationale for this choice reflects a different moment in the country’s history.

Founded in 1845, it was intended to take into account the agricultural work schedule and religious customs of rural voters. Today, while early and mail-in voting options have expanded, the tradition of Tuesday voting remains crucial on Election Day.

Why was Tuesday chosen as election day?

The choice of Tuesday was intended to avoid clashing with religious practices, especially Sunday services and Wednesday market days common in many rural areas. This gave farmers time to get to polling stations several hours away without missing essential weekly jobs.

Jessica Linker, professor of history at Northeastern University, explains that Congress planned the day to avoid “disenfranchisement” of farm workers who had limited free time outside of their farm duties.

Why November was perfect for 19th century America

November was chosen to correspond to the agricultural schedule. Taking place after the fall harvest but before the onset of winter, Election Day allowed farming communities to vote without disrupting seasonal work.

Although urban populations were growing in large cities like New York and Boston, priority on voting day was given to rural voters who had less direct access to polling places.

Why is election day still Tuesday and not a weekend or holiday?

Although the agrarian calendar no longer dictates American life, changing Election Day would require overcoming political gridlock. Some states, such as Rhode Island and West Virginia, have already recognized Election Day as a holiday.

However, there has been little push across the country to change the date or establish a federal holiday.

Nick Beauchamp, a political science professor at Northeastern University, notes that debates about postponing Election Day died down with the advent of early voting and mail-in ballots, which extended the voting period to just one day. In the 2024 election, 97% of voters will have access to early voting, reducing the urgency to change the traditional Tuesday voting day.

An evolving look at election day logistics

Because mail-in and early voting are now widely available, Tuesday is often seen as the last day rather than the only day to vote, Beauchamp explains. These options, which span days or even weeks before Election Day, give voters more flexibility by changing campaign strategy and how Americans cast ballots.

Source

Based on reporting by the Associated Press, experts at Northeastern University and Britannica’s reporting on why U.S. federal elections are held on a Tuesday in November is rooted in historic agricultural and religious practices.