Why are almost all American elections held on Tuesdays? It's a story of farmers, faith and 175 years of inertia, wgbhnews reports.
Voters head to the polls in South Carolina on Saturday for that state’s presidential primary. Yet, a Saturday election is an outlier in the U.S.Back in the day — aka the 18th and early 19th centuries — when it came time to elect a president, Americans didn’t so much do it on election day. They did it during election days.
"They were very public," said King."In fact, you would often have to show your ballot and who you were voting for.""They were boisterous and drunken affairs," said King."Election cakes filled with rum were a big part of what was happening." So, Congress went to work. At the time, the U.S. was a largely agrarian society and many of the all-white, male voting population were farmers.
In January 1845, Congress passed a law establishing the date for federal elections as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. While municipalities and states can hold elections or primaries on any day they want, Federal elections — which happen every other year — must take place on that Tuesday in November.
"If we had, say, a Super Saturday instead of a Super Tuesday, we would very likely get an enhanced turnout," said Norman Ornstein OF the American Enterprise Institute AND co-founder of the group, Why Tuesday? — an organization committed to increasing voter registration and turnout. Ornstein said if he could wave a magic wand, he’d make Election Day a full day: 24-hours, from 12 p.m. on a Saturday to 12 p.m. on a Sunday.Ornstein said he realizes that’s ambitious — both logistically and economically.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Carrie Underwood's Birthday Tribute to Her 5-Year-Old Son Isaiah Proves How Fast Time GoesCarrie Underwood took to Instagram to wish her 5-year-old son Isaiah a happy birthday on Feb. 27. See her sweet message.
Baca lebih lajut »
Some election officials scrambling to address coronavirus concerns ahead of Super TuesdayConcerns have sprouted for election officials, as a potential coronavirus outbreak in the United States could influence how votes are cast on Super Tuesday and beyond.
Baca lebih lajut »