Election Day Law 1845, Why Is Election Day A Tuesday In November History

Congress set the date back in 1845can the election be postponed or changedthats been an interesting question this year with the pandemic.

Elections 2020 miami. In the united states election day is the annual day set by law for the general elections of federal public officialsit is statutorily set by the federal government as the tuesday next after the first monday in the month of november equaling the tuesday occurring within november 2 to november 8. On january 23 1845 the 28th us congress passed an act to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of president and vice president in all the states of the union the act selected the tuesday after the first monday in november as the day on which all states must appoint electors. It all goes back to 1845 when congress passed a law to set a single election day for the entire country.

Frequently asked questions congressional research service 2 when and how was a single election day created. In 1792 the 2nd congress decided presidential electors would vote on the first wednesday in december and electors must be chosen in the 34 days leading up to 7that date. For federal offices president vice president and united states congress and most.

Why was election day set for the first tuesday in november. It would take a change in federal law an act of congress to move that date. As lawcrime and others have also duly noted the presidents term of office ends at noon on the 20th day of january.

In 1845 congress passed a law establishing that the day for choosing presidential electors the day for the popular vote that would determine the electors of the electoral college would be every four years on the first tuesday after the first monday in november. Americans first began the custom of weekday voting in 1845 when congress passed a federal law designating the first tuesday following the first monday in november as election day. Election day established in 1845.

If such a move were done with political interests in mind perhaps by targeting an opponents electoral strongholds it could have an impact on the results of an election. Since election day is set by law it would take an act. On january 23 1845 the 28th us congress.

In 1845 the 28th congress set a single date for states to appoint presidential electors. Date of the general election is set by federal law fixed since 1845.