Why is Election Day always on a Tuesday? This is a question I am often asked when I address groups about our election day history.
In 1845, Congress chose the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November because it was the most convenient day for 19th-century farmers. They traveled on horseback or with wagons, so a Tuesday gave them travel time without interfering with Sunday church services or Wednesday market days.
That’s the simple answer, but there is more complexity behind it.
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Allowing for the Electoral College Timing
When voters cast a ballot for president every four years, they are actually voting for a slate of electors who meet in each state to cast their votes for a particular candidate. Those votes are then sent to Congress where they are officially counted, and the incoming president is announced. (This constitutes the Electoral College.)
The first effort for some sort of schedule and system began in 1792. At that time, electors met on the first Wednesday in December. Federal law specified that each state could choose its own electors, so long as it was within a 34-day window before the date when the electors would meet and cast their ballots.
Why a 34-Day Window?
The founding fathers picked 34 days out of respect for the lifestyles of the citizenry. Many landowners owned farms, and so they wanted to be sure the harvest was in. They also needed to allow travel time for people to arrive in town to vote.
But it was chaotic. States held elections at all different times. Government officials worried that if one state voted earlier than the others, then word of their vote might affect how people in other states voted. (We have a similar issue today, but they used to think they could control it.)
For that reason, Congress passed the 1845 law specifying that elections should take place the “first Tuesday after the first Monday…” keeping the date within the 34 days prior to the December Electoral College meeting date. (The election of 1848 was the first time this new schedule was applied.)
However, like everything else in this world, “things change.” In 1887 the date of the meeting of the Electoral College was moved to the second Monday in January. Despite this, the states have maintained the “first Tuesday after the first Monday.”
More Changes: Earlier Voting and Mail-In Voting
As election officials evaluated voter turnout and listened to consumer feedback, states began coming up with changes that were intended to increase voter participation. (The Constitution specifies that states are in charge of elections.) Administrators noted that citizens are more likely to vote if they don’t have to take time off from work or stand in a long line to cast their ballots.
As a result, states have tried offering many options over the last 20 years. Some states switched to more easily available mail-in ballots; others have broadened the opportunities for in-person early voting. Voting by mail or a more spread out time in which to vote also relieves the strain on poll workers.
In 2000, only about 14 percent of voters cast their ballots before Tuesday; by 2022, that number hit50 percent.
As of 2026, 47 states (plus Washington, D.C.) offer some form of early in-person voting. Three states—Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire—do not offer early voting for general voters though people with specific excuses can usually vote absentee.
In some areas, states are making mail-in voting easily available as a way to increase turnout. In California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot before the election.
Federal Push for Voter ID and In-Person Voting
Though some communities worry about the safety of our voting system, studies show that statistically voter fraud is not really an issue. Studies have been conducted by major non-partisan groups including the Heritage Foundation (leans right) and the Brennan Center (leans left), and there is very little abuse of the system.
Despite the low statistics on fraud, some states are working on change. Florida has just passed a bill that requires voters to show IDs to register to vote. (This change occurs in 2027.)
Other states, including New Hampshire, Wyoming, and Louisiana, have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship to register.
Until recently, Utah offered universal mail-in voting, but they just amended that law. By 2029, voters may still vote by mail, but they will need to “opt-in” instead of receiving a ballot automatically.
Another troubling change has been put forward by Ohio. Their state legislature passed a law that strictly limits the time for returning mailed ballots. This means a foul-up by the postal system could cause voters ballots to not be registered in time. Election administrators hope more people will vote in person as a result.
And while the current federal government continues to push for more alterations to tighten up the voting system, changes cost money. Most states are currently taking a “wait and see” approach. What will happen with the court battles in states like Florida and Arizona? (In Arizona, they have been wrangling over proof-of-citizenship laws for 20 years.)
Because studies show that the system is sound, many states figure they might as well wait.
So as you can see, Americans may still honor the first Tuesday after the first Monday as Election Day, but they actually vote at a wide variety of times and places!
How can any early voting or late counting take place when This is the law? All ballots must be received on that day.
This is an excellent question. With so many states allowing early voting, I’m going to go back and add this information into my article. But since you might not see the edited article, here is the answer to your question:
The simple answer is that many states specify that they have the right to adjust the voting schedule. Under state laws, votes can be cast before the official in-person Election Day, to be added to the final tally.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 37 states and the District of Columbia allow early voting with no excuses or justification required. Advance voting periods range from 4 days to 50 days.
The group also says that all 50 states and the federal district allow absentee balloting. Some 20 states require a reason for an absentee ballot. Three states – Colorado, Oregon and Washington – mail ballots to all eligible voters.
With the exception of votes from overseas military, mail-in ballots are to be postmarked by Election Day. This means that the vote tally may not be fully computed until a week or more after Election Day.
Because we have never made Election Day a federal holiday, early voting helps make it easier for people to vote at their convenience. And in 2020, with the pandemic threatening the vote throughout the country, mail-in ballots or a larger span of time for in-person voting will help keep citizens safe.
There are numerous safeguards to assure that there is no tampering with mail-in ballots.
I thought election day was the first Tuesday in November. Why is it the second Tuesday this year, on the 8th?
That was the original plan. It was switched to the first Tuesday after the first Monday as everything is backtimed to being held within 34 days of the first meeting of the Electoral College. Sometimes the first Tuesday didn’t fall within that time period so it was hanged to be “the first Tuesday of November,” but it was amended to note the “first Tuesday after the first Monday…” Without that alteration, the first Tuesday did not always fall within 34 days preceding the meeting of the Electoral College.
Kate
Why is election day on the 2nd Tuesday in November this year?
It has to be preceded by a “first Monday.” (The article explains all the reasons.)
Add Vermont as a state that mails out ballots to every registered voter.
Thank you! I’ll add that in.
Kate
Are there any ways that voting on a Tuesday can be troublesome for some people. I need this kind of information for a paper I’m writing in school. This would help me out a lot, thank you!
-Andre
Andre, One of the biggest issues is that Tuesday is a work day for most people. Various groups have advocated for moving election day to a weekend, or giving everyone time off in order to vote. I think these are valid points, but I don’t see much changing right away. I’m glad you are writing about this.
Kate Kelly
The reason why it is the Tuesday after the first Monday is so that Election Day would never fall on November 1, which is a Holy Day in the Catholic Church: All Saints Day.
Thank you! For Catholic communities that would have been very important.
In the days when our country was just starting out, however, it had to do with voters not having to travel on Sunday–the Sabbath.
Why is the election day changed this year, 2023 to the second Tuesday after the second Monday, November 14?
Hi…I’m not sure where you are voting, but most of the country is holding election day today, November 8. This is Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2023
Why is the election held the first Tuesday instead of first Tuesday after the first monday
Thanks for posting, but the answer is in the article.
I understand some politicians want to eliminate the electoral college. Why do they want that? It is a horrible idea.
If the Electoral College were eliminated, we would choose our presidents through a popular vote. That would mean the candidates would not have to favor the states with the largest electoral votes. They could spend time in more states listening to more people. But I don’t think the Electoral College will go away anytime soon.