Why IS Election Day on the 8th rather than the 1st this year?

[Ken Burch]

I thought it was always supposed to be the FIRST Tuesday in November.

[unblock]

1. First Tuesday after the first monday

[sweetloukillbot]

2. It's the first Tuesday after the first Monday

So it can never be on the first. Why? I don't know...

[Coyotl]

12. Nov. 1 is All Saints Day. Too much contradiction with politics.

[LeftInTX]

14. Sounds good enough to me.

Founding Fathers were most Episcopal, I don't know if it was a Holy Day of Obligation for them back then.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. By statute, it's not the first Tuesday, but the Tuesday immediately following

the first Monday. So the earliest possible date could be Nov. 2.

[truebluegreen]

4. First Tuesday after the first Monday.

Dunno why.

[elleng]

5. 'Election Day in the United States is the day set by law

for the general elections of public officials. It occurs on the Tuesday immediately after the first Monday in November[1] (this does not mean the "first Tuesday" in a month because the first day of a month can be a Tuesday). The earliest possible date is November 2, and the latest possible date is November 8 (as it will be for the 2016 election).'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Day_(United_States)

[fishwax]

6. It's the first Tuesday after the first Monday, because November 1st is All Saints Day

People weren't likely to travel to the polls (and in the early 1800s, when a national election day was first established, many people had to travel a considerable way) on a religious holiday.

[unblock]

7. Presidential Election Day act, 1845

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Election_Day_Act

[BlueStateLib]

8. Nov 1 All Saints' Day a holy day of obligation

Roman Catholic Church

[Ken Burch]

9. Thanks for everyone's answers.

n/t.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. To make me suffer another week.

At least that's the way I see it.

[TheDebbieDee]

11. It's the first Tuesday after the first full weekend in November...

Election Day was chosen to allow farmers and planters from the 18th & 19th century the maximum amount of time to travel (by horse or carriage) to the nearest polling place (which might be 100 miles away) and return home before the beginning of the next weekend (or sabbath).

So the earliest that Election Day could occur would be Nov 4th.

[Wounded Bear]

16. Incorrect, as stated elsewhere in the thread...

I guess you didn't read the other responses before you replied, particularly those quoting the actual statute that designates election day.

[TheDebbieDee]

17. Good morning to you...

[struggle4progress]

13. 2 USC 7 and 3 USC 1

The Tuesday next after the 1st Monday in November, in every even numbered year, is established as the day for the election, in each of the States and Territories of the United States, of Representatives and Delegates to the Congress commencing on the 3d day of January next thereafter.
(R.S. § 25; Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 130, § 6, 18 Stat. 400; June 5, 1934, ch. 390, § 2, 48 Stat. 879.)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/7

The electors of President and Vice President shall be appointed, in each State, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 644, 62 Stat. 672.)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/1

[LeftInTX]

15. According to Wikipedia:

But it was pointed out that in some years the period between the first Tuesday in November and the first Wednesday in December (when the electors are required to meet in their state capitals to vote) would be more than 34 days, in violation of the existing Electoral College law.

So, the bill was reworded to move the date for choosing presidential electors to the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, a date scheme already used in New York.[6] The period between Election Day and the first Wednesday in December is always 29 days. The effect of the change was to make November 2 the earliest day on which Election Day may fall.

(This rule was set in 1845. )