This year Election Day will be on 8th November. It is observed on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
This is the day when people cast ballots to select public officials from local to the national government. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, while the elections to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate are held every two years. Other state and local government elections can be held in any year that is designated by the state.
Election Day is a state holiday in 12 states and observance in 39 states.
History of Election Day
This day is to show our appreciation for these rights that have been granted to us through the notion of democracy.
On January 7, 1789, the first U.S. presidential elections were held. The Federal law permitted each state to choose Presidential electors within 34 days and send their electors to the Electoral College.
Due to communications and transportation advancement, this became a problem since the states that voted earlier could influence states that voted later. To prevent this, Congress responded by mandating a uniform national date for choosing the electors.
On January 23, 1845, the first Tuesday following the first Monday was chosen as Election Day for future presidents. This time was deemed suitable for elections as the harvest would have been over. Tuesday was chosen because voters could attend church on a Sunday and travel to their polling stations on Monday.
This allowed the farmers to vote before Wednesday, which was usually when farmers would sell their produce at the market.
On November 7, 1848, the first Election Day took place.
Fun Facts About Election Day
Some facts about elections day you will find interesting:
- Election Day is always the Tuesday of or after November 2nd.
- Congress chose November for Election Day because the harvest work was always done till then.
- In the 1700s and early 1800, votes were counted by raising hands or speaking out loud.
- In 1890 secret ballots came into use.
- John F. Kennedy became the youngest president to be elected to office.
- Election Day was established by Congress in the year 1845.
- Victoria Woodhull in the year 1872, became the first woman to run for president.
- At 69, Ronald Reagan became the oldest person ever elected U.S. president.
- The only president who wanted to become a medical doctor was William Henry Harrison, the ninth president.
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