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Nov 8, 2006 1:48 am US/Central
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Good Question: Why Do We Vote In November?
by Ben Tracy
(WCCO)
We all take for granted that Election Day falls on a Tuesday in November each year. But why?
"I can't really think exactly why," said a woman at polling place in Minneapolis.
The United States Congress elected the date back in 1845. At that time, many of us were farmers and Congress choose November as a good time to hold elections because the harvest was over and farmers could leave their fields to vote. Back then, it also took a long time to get places and people did not travel on Sundays as it was a day of rest. So, Congress picked Tuesday as voting day, which would allow Monday as a travel day.
"It's logical. It makes sense," said a man voting in the Twin Cities.
However, Congress did not just pick any Tuesday. They picked the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That rule is because Congress did not want Election Day to fall on Nov. 1, which is All Saints Day and a Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics.
At this point, the date is largely based on tradition. However, some members of Congress have proposed moving Election Day to Saturday or making it a national holiday to allow more people to vote.
Our fellow citizens in Alaska can actually vote before Election Day. They are permitted to hold the election for Congress and President in October. That's because of the potential for hazardous weather there in November. However, the good folks in Alaska have never chosen to do this.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)