Yesterday’s US elections sparked controversy with many questions and curiosities. While there are many speculations about the future of America, the subject we will focus on in this article is “Why are US elections always held on Tuesdays?” will be the answer to the question. The roots of this problem go back to the 19th century, especially in the days of an agricultural society.
History of Election Days
In 1845, a law was passed to establish a single election day for the entire United States. America at the time was a largely agricultural society, and the farmers’ workforce spent much of the year planting, tending, and harvesting crops. Therefore, a suitable time period had to be chosen to hold the elections. Early November was considered the best time to vote as it was after the harvest period. The weather was also generally mild during this period, making travel easier on election day.
Days of the Week and Travel Needs
Some days of the week were eliminated as election days. For example, Sunday was a day of worship for the Christian community and was therefore deemed ineligible for voting. Wednesday could not be election day because it was the day farmers sold their crops in town. Additionally, rural farmers needed to spend a day traveling to get to the nearest polling place. This was especially challenging in the era before automobiles. Farmers had to spend time getting to their places to vote. Therefore, among the days other than Sunday and Wednesday, the most logical option was determined to be Tuesday.
The “After the First Monday” Rule
Considering that November 1 is the election day, that this date is celebrated as “All Saints’ Day” for Christians, and that merchants generally complete their books for the previous month on the first day of the month, the logic of the expression “after the first Monday” is better understood. This situation offered a practical solution in determining the election day.
Current Practices and Debates
Nowadays, the logic behind why elections in the USA are still held on Tuesday is not valid in today’s conditions. Today, less than 2% of Americans work in agriculture. Additionally, the fact that many people go to work on Tuesdays throughout the year calls this situation into question. While voter turnout rates are decreasing day by day, many citizens suggest that the elections be postponed to the weekend. However, this suggestion has not been implemented yet.
Alternative Voting Methods
Instead, early and mail-in voting options have been introduced. These methods aim to increase voters’ participation rates by making their voting processes more flexible. However, many people still argue that the way elections are organized needs to be revamped. This situation reveals the conflict between the historical and social roots of election days and modern needs.
Conclusion
Holding US elections on Tuesdays is a practice that has a historical background and has undergone many changes over time. The logic used in determining election days in the transition from agricultural society to today’s modern society has lost its validity today. However, unless the necessary steps are taken to make changes in this regard, the elections will continue to be held on Tuesday. For this reason, the future of the elections and the direction of the changes in this process will always remain on the agenda.
Sources: Britannica, Overseas Vote Foundation
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