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Jordan
January 22, 2008
ELECTION DAY
The decision to hold elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November was made by lawmakers
many years ago. It involved the general and permanent laws of the United States. They are listed and kept in a
group of books known as the United States Code. The Code is prepared and published by a legal office of the
House of Representatives.
In 1845, the code established that presidential electors would be appointed on the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November every fourth year. In 1875, it established the date for electing members to the House of
Representatives in every even−numbered year.
In 1914, it established the date and the time for electing members to the Senate.
The lawmakers chose early November because most Americans at that time lived on farms. They thought
November was the best time for farmers and other workers to be able to travel to voting places. Their harvest
was finished and the weather was still good enough in most of the country to permit such travel.
The lawmakers chose Tuesdays because most of the people had to travel long distances to voting places.
Monday was not considered a good day for an election. It would have forced people to begin their trips on
Sunday, the day many people attended church services.
The Federal Election Commission says lawmakers chose the Tuesday after the first Monday because they
wanted to prevent Election Day from falling on the first of November. There were two reasons for this.
November first is All Saints Day, a holy day for Roman Catholics. Also, most business owners worked on their
financial records on the first day of each month.
The Federal Election Commission says Congress was worried that the economic success or failure of the earlier
month could influence those votes.
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