Seems that if we held elections on the weekends like most of thew world, voter turnout would be bigger
2006-11-07 14:31:17 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
Voter turnout is linked to apathy not the day we vote. There are plenty of options for voting in the weeks before the actual election day, including an early ballot by mail or going to the Secretary of State's office at your convenience and voting there.
2006-11-07 19:37:40 · answer #1 · answered by nativeAZ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wondered that myself. It isn't part of the Constitution. Here (apparently) is why:
Answers to your questions about the news.
Why Are Federal Elections Held the First Tuesday in November?
Emily Yoffe
Posted Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at 6:09 PM ET
They weren't always. The Constitution does not stipulate the date of national elections, just that the Electoral College electors should be chosen on the same day throughout the United States. When the United States was first founded, Congress met in December and usually adjourned in March. This was largely because it was the only time farmers could be away from the land. A 1792 law established that presidential elections should be held sometime in November, which gave enough time to count the votes before the new congressional session started. But the dates of local, state, and congressional elections varied from state to state and year to year. In 1845, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November became the official presidential election date. And in 1872 the Apportionment Act added the election of members of the House. (In case you were absent from school for this: Senators were chosen by state legislature until 1913.) But why Tuesday? Many people had to travel to get to the polls, so Monday was allotted as a travel day because Sunday was a day of worship. Nov. 1 was out because it is a Catholic holy day of obligation, All Saints Day.
2006-11-07 22:42:10 · answer #2 · answered by iwasnotanazipolka 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People want to rest on weekends and on holidays without the obligation of voting. Monday could be a holiday but Tuesday never is in November (and of course it is not a weekend day).
2006-11-07 22:41:20 · answer #3 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that's less of an issue than it used to be. Most states have some sort of early voting. I live and Florida and was able to go vote on Saturday. It was nice to be able to get it out of the way.
2006-11-07 22:34:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know for certain, but if I had to guess - I would assume for religious reasons - that if it were on a Sunday, Christians would be upset and if it were on Saturday, the Jewish people be upset... and having it on a Tuesday, gives poll workers & politians an extra workday to prepare.
2006-11-07 22:37:47 · answer #5 · answered by James C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's set in the U.S. Constitution as the first Tuesday in the month of November. It can be changed, but I wouldn't want to have a constitutional amendment to do so.
2006-11-07 22:36:08 · answer #6 · answered by Shelley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is designated in the constitution as the day we vote.
2006-11-07 22:35:21 · answer #7 · answered by mk_matson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know why the President is sworn in on January 20th..
2006-11-07 22:41:40 · answer #8 · answered by virginiamayoaunt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's easier to vote when the kids are in school.
2006-11-07 22:38:54 · answer #9 · answered by littleblondemohawk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now you want to screw up the weekend? What the heck are you, a democrat?
2006-11-07 22:35:58 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋