Why elections held on tuesday

In the s, the majority of Americans worked as farmers, and with polling stations scattered across the country, it took most residents at least one day of travel in order to cast their votes.

Lawmakers had to allow for a travel day before Election Day. Additionally, the month of November was chosen with farmers in mind. Spring and early summer elections would have interfered with planting season and early fall overlapped with the harvest, according to history. Officials were then left with two choices: Late fall or winter. In the s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place. Since people often traveled at least a day to vote, lawmakers needed to allow a two-day window for Election Day.

Weekends were impractical, since most people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers. With this in mind, Tuesday was selected as the first and most convenient day of the week to hold elections. Farm culture also explains why Election Day always falls in November. There have been repeated proposals in the U. But while proposals to do that have periodically been introduced in Congress, none have gotten very far.

Election Day is , however, a paid holiday in 13 states , at least for state employees though Kentucky state workers only get the day off in presidential-election years ; in New Mexico, state workers are allowed two hours of paid administrative leave to vote.

And many employers, from outdoor clothing company Patagonia to restaurant chain Cava , have taken it upon themselves to give their workers paid time off to vote this year. Say "Alexa, enable the Pew Research Center flash briefing". It organizes the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values.

Even in a polarized era, the survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics. Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? If so, let us know by emailing us at bigquestions mentalfloss. BY Erin McCarthy.