Election Tuesday was enacted in 1845, over 150 years ago. November was just after the fall harvest, and winter was coming.
In a time of agrarian and self-sufficient lifestyles, white, landowning men needed at least a day to travel to a voting station. So, Monday was for travelling and Tuesday seemed perfect. This way, the presidential elections would not interfere with Sabbath or Wednesday market days.
While it seemed like the perfect day over a century ago, it is simply impossible to maximize voter turnout on a weekday. Bernie Sanders, in his CNN interview, said that November 8th should be a national holiday to allow blue-collar workers the opportunity to exercise enfranchisement.
In a nation of many cultures and religions, it is incumbent upon the government to allow Americans the best circumstances to vote whether that means moving Election Day to the weekend or expanding early voting to every state.
It seems strange that a national event that is supposed to draw people from all walks of life is on a weekday. Trying to work around trick work and home schedules, voters wait and upwards of 45-minutes to cast their ballot. The reasoning is not only antiquated but, it also does not align with the changing structure of the 21st century.
