Comments on: Rule for when U.S. Presidential Election is held?

Question: Rule for when U.S. Presidential Election is held?

Seth — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:12:05 -0800

US election question: The US Presidential election is being held Nov. 2, 2004. Last election was on Nov. 7th. I was confused last time and this time because I swear that I remember learning that elections are always held on the second Tuesday of November. Anyone aware of whether that second Tuesday thing is a rule, and, if so, is there some historical origin to it? If it is a rule, anyone know why the last two elections were held on the first Tuesday of November?

By: falconred

falconred — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:21:03 -0800

U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 4:

"The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States."

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:25:22 -0800

Thanks crunch.

I just can't shake the idea that I learned somewhere that it was on the Second Tuesday of November. And I searched for that, and found some resources that mentioned the "Second Tuesday" thing.

I am wondering if I am the only one who was indoctrinated by public schools to believe something that is incorrect.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:29:56 -0800

In school, I learned that it was the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In 1998, the first Tuesday in November was the 1st, so the Presidential election was held on the 8th.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:30:20 -0800

Oops, I mean 1988.

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:47:17 -0800

Maybe I was just having a brain fart.
But thanks to each of you for answering.

By: jpoulos

jpoulos — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 09:04:03 -0800

Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday?

Congress wanted to make sure the election never fell on the first of November. November 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church (All Saints Day). In addition, many businesses tallied their sales and expenses and did their books for the previous month on the first of each month. Congress feared that an unusually good or bad economic month might influence the vote if it were held on the 1st.

From here.

By: andrewraff

andrewraff — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 09:21:51 -0800

3 U.S.C. §1. Time of appointing electors:

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.

By: substrate

substrate — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 12:22:35 -0800

I strongly urge all my Republican brothers (and sisters) to go out and vote the 2nd Tuesday of November, November 9th. Four more years of President Bush won't happen unless we all pull together as a team!