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Why Do We Vote on a Tuesday in November? (Take Our Blaze Poll)

Oct. 13, 2012 9:51pm Mike Opelka

We’re less than one month from the big day — Election Day. And Americans (for the most part) will vote on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

But do you know why Tuesday is election day? Moreover, do you know why we vote on the first Tuesday after a Monday in November? As a country, we’ve been doing this since 1845. You would be surprised to learn that many people (including elected officials and candidates) have no idea why we vote on the first Tuesday after a Monday in November.

According to a report from the Christian Science Monitor, before 1845 states were allowed to open polling stations in the 34 days before the Electoral College met on the first Wednesday in December. You won’t find anything in the Constitution about which day should be election day. So how did we end up with the first Tuesday after a Monday in November as our election day?

More specifically:

Why November?
Why the first Tuesday after a Monday in November?

The answer may be due to farming and faith.

In the middle of the 19th Century, America was a country of farmers. That reality meant that maximizing productivity during each day of a growing season was vital to the family farm. November represented the first month when farmers might have time to travel to a city to cast their votes.

Travel times also played into the decision to make Tuesday the day for voting. If overnight travel was required to get to a polling place, Monday was out of the question as Sunday was a day of worship for most Americans.

And what about the strange stipulation that election day is “the first Tuesday after a Monday in November? What prompted that very specific limitation? It’s all about faith. November 1st is “All Souls Day” (All Souls Day is a holy day of obligation – which means Catholics will be expected to be in church). By designating the first Tuesday after a Monday for voting, it’s virtually impossible for Catholics in America to have a conflict on election day.

History of Why We Vote On A Tuesday In November

Image: YouTube

A group called “Why Tuesday?” has been pushing to move voting from Tuesdays to weekends for years. In February of this year, “Why Tuesday?” posted MItt Romney’s answer to the question.

President Obama has not answered the “Why Tuesday?” question during this election cycle. However, we was interviewed on the topic back in 2008 and talked about making it easier to vote by supporting popular Democratic party ideas like; same-day registration and weekend voting. (Obama’s answer starts at the 1:52 mark.)

The face of Why Tuesday? is a gentleman named Jacob Soboroff. In April, Jacob addressed a TED audience. His theory is that moving elections from Tuesdays to weekends would increase voter turnout.

Where do you stand on moving election day from Tuesdays to weekends? Take our Blaze poll.

Should We Vote On Weekends?

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Comments (141)

FFTyranny
Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:45am
It was changed to Tuesday because that was the only time Wimpy left his house to pay back the hamburger he borrowed on today.

So it was more convenient for him to vote while he was out and about repaying the hamburgers he borrowed.

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- banjarmon
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 1:29am
  Early voting allows dem voters to move between states to vote again and again!!!
  
  Report this comment
- ObamaForward_OverTheCliff
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 2:18am
  “Why Do We Vote on a Tuesday in November?”
  
  Because it takes … THAT LONG … to rig an election.
  
  Report this comment
- TRUTHandFREEDOM
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 5:40am
  I thought that Romney’s answer is definitely the best one.
  
  I’d also add that we don’t need to make it any easier for the casual citizen to get their lazy **** over to the polls. If they cannot see the responsibility to pay attention and get involved on Tuesday, what makes Saturday any different. Do we give them the trophy for participation? If they won’t go on Tuesday, then my evaluation is that they aren’t that focused on what we are doing there and we do NOT need any more casual voters affecting the outcome of an election with their pop culture understanding of elections and candidates. This is a serious process for serious citizens! And another thing; I have noticed when I am driving around around on Saturdays that many other people are working.
  
  Last comment:
  The poll asks as a first question if you think that weekend voting should only be on saturday.
  The first question should be do you think that we should have weekend voting.
  
  Report this comment
- Ilikepeople
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 7:15am
  If election date and times are moved it will only change voter number turn out for a year or two, because people don’t vote because they feel entitled. Change the dates for voting, and they will have their egos fed just enough to get one or two years of voting out of them. The main reason people don’t vote is because they play both sides of the aisle getting glory no matter who they are around, and no amount of date changing will change that.
  
  Report this comment
- poorrichard09
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 8:38am
  Should be moved to Saturday cuz during the week the producers are working, which leaves the moochers who do nothing more time to go cancel the vote of a producer. Also, the new pres should take office ONE Month after election to reduce damage by a sore loser “lame duck.”
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 9:20am
  I agree with the post that said early voting just gives the Democrats a chance to move to a different state and vote multiple times. I think if you can’t make it (due to military service, being out of the country/state – and can prove it – you get an absentee ballot. No more early voting. We need a photo ID….my son needs a photo ID to get benefits from the government, why shouldn’t people need to prove who they are to vote? It’s because Democrats want to make sure the dead people that are still on the rolls get a chance to vote. I think another question should be, should registration rolls be cross referenced with death rolls, convictions, places of residence, ect.?
  
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- thx1138v2
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:00pm
  Another famous but little known Wimpyism: “Chef, let me buy this man next to me a hamburger.” The chef delivers the burgers and looks to Wimpy to be paid but Wimpy says, “I’m buying. He’s paying”
  Kind of reminds you of Congress doesn’t it.
  
  Report this comment
- Glenn in Virginia
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 2:33pm
  Come on! Everybody knows Wimpy never paid for his hamburgers. What planet have you been living on?
  
  Report this comment
- Mary Ann 1971
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 6:28pm
  One of the reasons the writer gives is All Souls Day is a day of obligation, by the way it’s All Saints Day, which is ll/1, that is the holy day of obligation. There was a time the first day of the baseball season started on a Tuesday, the All Star Game was also a Tuesday. It gives life a “sense of order”. Thanksgiving is always the last Thursday of November. MAA
  
  Report this comment
- Sainttess
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 10:02pm
  Mary Ann 1971 – Thanksgiving is not the last Thursday of November, it’s the 4th Thursday of November. This year Thanksgiving falls on November 22nd, which is not the last Thursday of the month.
  
  I prefer Tuesday voting, because where I work, we are allowed to vote on company time. I have too much other stuff to do on Saturdays.
  
  Report this comment
- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on October 15, 2012 at 9:34am
  If it Ain’t broke – don’t fix it !
  
  Report this comment
IBD1UC
Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:13am
Wow. I always thought Election Day was the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November because it was about the furthest date from Tax Day in April. Silly me!

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- marine249
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:29am
  you are the wise one
  
  Report this comment
- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 3:05am
  ICYURRIGHT! Could I BDA2?
  
  Report this comment
- IBD1UC
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 4:21am
  Marine249 and JackTheToad, you have been granted Honorary BD1s…or 2s; Biden said it is simple arithmetic… so go figure.
  
  Report this comment
- burnteye86
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 4:57am
  Didn’t they set up the voting schedule long before they set up the tax day?
  
  Report this comment
scrapadapolis
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:50pm
Who cares about what day we vote on?I say rid us of daylight savings time!Farmers are well equipped to get their crops in before the sun goes down.50% of people still use lights during the day inside,Besides saving on electricity isn’t a basic anymore hence the invention of kids and electronics along with everything in our homes that constantly run.And If you people think Ben Franklin came up with the idea to save on electric,your wrong they didn’t have it..

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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:09am
  I agree, stop changing the clocks. One year I counted the “clocks” in my home. 2 in the kitchen, 3 or 4 “atomic” clocks, 3 computers, 2 cell phones, wristwatch, about 10 electronic items that have clocks too like DVD players. This is now a STUPID thing to do and just one more good reason to move to Arizona.
  
  Report this comment
- right-wing-waco
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:12am
  I forgot 2 cars and several others.
  
  Report this comment
- Gorp
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 1:49am
  If “they” want more daylight then get up earlier and go to bed later.
  
  Report this comment
- dfissell
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 6:56am
  Day light saving time is more about child safety now than a farmer
  
  Report this comment
- Melika
  Posted on October 15, 2012 at 5:24am
  If you weren’t being sarcastic, I hate to break it to you, but children are more at risk because of Daylight Saving Time. There is a huge increase in the two weeks or so after a time shift with vehicle/pedestrian accidents, especially in the mornings when most kids are traveling to/from the bus stops/schools. It’s full dark in the morning during at least 1/2 of “DST” when your children leave the house and it teaches you kids that the government controls everything, even time.
  
  Why DST Sucks:
  1) wastes more electricity than without.
  2) disrupts sleep cycles c
  – circadian rhythms are set by nature – so even after the “adjustment” period, people are still off kilter
  3) causes low grade anxiety for many people
  4) near midnight sun in the lower 48.
  5) if time control isn’t the ultimate in “overbearing government control” I don’t know what is.
  
  And the worst offense: me trying to explain to some democrat who hasn’t seen a sunrise in years that the sun is not actually setting an hour later, that it is just a trick with the clocks. I swear there are people who think time is shifting.
  
  Report this comment
drenfroe
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:48pm
Why would anyone care.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 9:21am
  I agree. Doesn’t matter to me when we vote.
  
  This question is up there with other “important” questions like..
  Why are blackboards green?
  Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway?
  Why does the American League ruin baseball with the Designated Hitter?
  How come the word “colonel” is pronounced “Kernel”?
  
  Report this comment
- crackerone
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 8:08pm
  Why is corpsman pronounced corpseman”
  
  Report this comment
Dispman
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:46pm
We no longer “vote on” the first Tuesday after a Monday in November, we now “vote no later than” the first Tuesday after a Monday in November. Early voting in some states begins during the last week of September.

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- banjarmon
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 1:21am
  Well said!!
  
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SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:42pm
It gives you one day to sober up after the weekend.

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- tradexpertbuysell
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:52pm
  Why do we vote on a Tuesday in November.
  
  That’s simple. Because Obama hasn’t had a chance yet to stop us peons from voting in this country. So until he does Tuesday it is!
  
  Report this comment
mcmad
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:39pm
Nice to see we are as divided about this as we are about everything else.
As for me, I like tradition -let’s keep it the way it is. I do want to make a correction to this article. Regarding the Holy Day, November 1 is All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation for Catholics. November 2 is All Souls Day -this day is not a day of obligation although it is a Holy Day. Just call me the Church Lady.

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1TrueOne55
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:38pm
I wonder how the WHYTuesday group will handle the Muslim Friday Prayers issue since they have their weekends on “Friday” before “Sabath Day” which is the Jewish day of Faith/Rest. It was not until the Roman Catholic Church declared “Sun Day” the Official Christian Holiday to replace the pagan one that was normally celebrated. Since Sun Day is the first day of the week per calendar experts and printers.

So Fridays and Saturdays would be considered the “Weekend” by Organized Labour standards so how will that work out.

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Armyduderetired
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:34pm
Add your comments

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Armyduderetired
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:33pm
The reason is because SS checks and welfare checks are issued on Monday in the beginning of the month. You know money plays a big role on ones consequences and can effect an individual’s motivation. Voting on Tuesday allows a 24 hr cooling off sobering rest time to elapse before the trauma of casting a ballot. You need a clear conciseness in order to decide on what sort of future poison you would like to throw your support too. This greatly reduces the amount of lawsuits that are filed for the obvious ” cool off ” period after receiving a windfall. Lawyers would be simply overwhelmed with clients trying to defend them after a ” cash high” beyond a reasonable doubt. Simple really…..actually it sounds like something Nacey PugUgly would try and defend doesn’t it?

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piper60
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:30pm
Leave it the way it is. I am SO sick of holidays being moved for the convenience of government workers as it is.

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- donkeykong
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 2:39am
  Ahhh, see now PIPER60 – that’s where you missed it….
  the terms ‘government’ and ‘workers’ don’t belong in
  the same sentence…..no association whatsoever….
  But, you are forgiven….
  
  Report this comment
- thx1138v2
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:08pm
  @DonkeyKong
  I don’t know about that. It seems they work very hard for their unions and in developing new ways to get into the taxpayers’ pockets and restrict what everyone can do. It takes a lot of hard work to get a country like ours this scrwed up.
  
  Report this comment
sWampy
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:22pm
Voting should be on your tax returns, if you have any earned income or are over 65 you vote, if not, you don’t.

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- SUNTZU
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:49pm
  I Beleive At one time You had to be a land owner to vote.
  If you have nothing in the game
  Why should you have anything to do with making the rules?
  
  Report this comment
Cosmos102
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:10pm
I say keep it Tuesday in Nov. Make it a little more difficult to vote so that people who aren’t serious about who they are casting their vote for will stay away from the polls. Early voting is already messing that up. Were it not for the pop culture crowd, obama would probably not have been elected.

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grayling646
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:56pm
Is Saturday best spent voting? No. Saturday is best spent completing the ‘honey do’ list and then enjoying life a little. What a stupid freaking question.

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- Benjamin Jarvis
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 8:39am
  That is exactly what I thought. I can think of so many better things to do on a Saturday.
  
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FreedomWitness
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:54pm
Quit MISLEADING people. Every body knows that Romney supporters vote on Tuesday. Then the Obama supporters get to vote on WEDNESDAY! Pass it on.

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- grayling646
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:03pm
  I heard Bill Clinton talking the other day about what a privilege it is to be able to vote on Wednesday. I thought, “What an arrogant prude”. I’m gonna email all of my elected officials. It just isn’t right that we have to vote on Tuesdays and the dems get to vote the day after. It’s unfair.
  
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SIXFRIGATES
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:54pm
You are all wrong. We do it to suppress the minority vote. It’s a racist thing really. Only rich white people with expensive cars know when the first Tuesday in November happens.

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Blacktooth
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:50pm
Does Monday Night Football have anything to do with it?

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Al J Zira
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:47pm
Brilliant idea. Move voting to Saturday when people of Jewish faith can’t vote. The democrats lose what percentage of their base? Obama won 78% of the Jewish vote in 08 so that’s a great idea.

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- foosgoddess
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 8:49am
  That percentage won’t hold this time around! On the other hand… he’ll likely get 100% of the sleeper cells voting in his favor.
  
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- TheCalmOne
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 6:41pm
  Elections are always held on a Saturday in Australia.
  
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Armyduderetired
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:44pm
The reason is because SS checks and welfare checks are issued on Monday in the beginning of the month. You know how money without consequence effects an individuals motivation. Voting on Tuesday allows a 24hr cooling off sobering rest time to alapse before the trauma of casting a ballot for deciding for which future poison you would like to try. This greatly reduces the amount of lawsuits filed for the obvious “cool off” period of receiving a windfall. Lawyers would be simply overwhelmed with activity if they had to try and defend a clients cash high beyond a reasonable doubt. Simple really.

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Delores at CH WV
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:38pm
Any day is a good day to vote? Why change the date? A national election should be the same in each state so that the vote is uniformed and we know who are national leaders are. By voting early, a state could release this information and it could change voter turnout. This release of information is unfair to the citizens and the people running for office. It should be as fair election as possible. So, why change it. 167 years, why change it?

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Spyder Jack
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:32pm
Being that our transportation is much faster than buggies of yesteryear and most commercial farmers have GPS within their tractors I believe we can change the election date and time to an earlier day. It would not hurt my feelings if the elections were held today.

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- Wolf
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 11:19pm
  Then why not make election day December 30? Or January 19 and the PE can begin work immediately.
  ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’- a mantra politicians and most people should learn and take to heart.
  
  Report this comment
CatB
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:17pm
I don’t think voting should be “easy” … people don’t appreciate things that are “easy” … I think if you have a schedule or going to be away .. that doesn’t allow voting in person then of course you should have an option of voting by absentee … but I still think going and voting is the best way to make your vote count. Florida has early voting and I do that … but it still means a trip to the county office and standing in line … I was asked if I wanted an absentee ballot mailed to me .. I said NO I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION FOR 4 YEARS .. I AM GOING IN. And yes .. I have to show a photo I.D. . just like if I need an over the counter cold medication or nearly anything else.

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- steelpanther
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:46pm
  Kinda helps weed out those that aren’t serious and therefore aren’t likely to be as up on the facts and topics. Last thing we need is dweebs that flip a coin to decide.
  
  We also have early voting as you said, and that alone I think rules out any argument on changing the day because it’s inconvenient, you can vote anytime you want, so how can you argue that you can’t vote on Tuesday? Only exceptions that I can think of are military and other people serving our country over seas and might have trouble voting.
  
  I’m going to go in to vote on election day, I’ve taken some political classes and know that the early voting votes aren’t counted unless the race is close enough for them to count and I would rather my vote be counted with the majority of them and maybe help keep the early votes from being counted.
  
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- NancyBee
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 12:13am
  Wow!! Steel…thanks…I didn’t know that!!
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 14, 2012 at 11:54am
  STEELPANTHER, Excellent points. I’ve always tried to walk into my polling place to make my vote count, except when I had no choice but to cast my vote by absentee ballot while in the service. I did get a stateside post for a while just 28 miles from my home doorstep. I was able to drive home during lunch to cast my vote. Well worth the drive.
  
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ALISSTER
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:16pm
Well we know that for 47%, Tuesday is still part of the weekend. Wouldn’t make a difference.

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sndrman
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:08pm
TUESDAY IS FINE……….it’s bad enough that democrats have to vote on wednesday nov. 7th and republicans on tuesday nov. 6th……state elections for democrats is nov. 8th which is thursday,with all these different,it will get to confusing for all,let’s keep it this way……people to busy on the weekend with plans and the such…..tuesday depending on when people leave in the orning to go to work they can vote before or after work……democrats have all day wednesday,as we know most dems/liberals don’t have to go to work,unemployment and/or welfare is a way to stimulate the economy(ask nancy p)……..so tuesday and wednesday are fine days for voting

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- CatB
  Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:21pm
  LOL … … How about this ……. to support your candidate while driving …
  
  To support Romney turn you car lights ON during the day.
  
  To support Obama turn you car lights OFF at night.
  
  ;-)
  
  Report this comment
AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on October 13, 2012 at 10:06pm
Why, so the loser can be sick the rest of the week! LOL Sorry!

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