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Election Day in United States=Quick FactsTuesday, November 2, 2010Election Day does not occur in 2011
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Date Posted: 2/11/10 17:11:59
Election Day in United States
Quick Facts
Election Day in the United States of America is the day on which popular ballots are held to select public officials.
Local names
Name Language
Election Day English
Elecciones Spanish
Election Day 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Election Day 2011
Election Day does not occur in 2011
See list of observations belowElection Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials. These include national, state and local government representatives at all levels up to the president.
Many people in the United States vote on Election Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Igor SmichkovWhat do people do?
On Election Day, citizens of the United States of America can vote by popular ballot for candidates for public offices at local, state and national levels. In even numbered years, federal elections are always held. In years divisible by four, presidential elections are always held. Elections for local and state officials may be held in odd or even-numbered years, depending on local and state laws.
The way in which people vote, depends on the state in which they live. In Oregon, all votes are cast by post and all votes have to be received at a given time on Election Day. In the state of Washington, nearly all people vote by post and the envelopes containing the voting papers have to be postmarked with the date of Election Day. In other states, people vote at voting stations, where long queues can form.
Public life
Election Day is not a federal holiday, although there have been proposals to make Election Day into a national holiday, perhaps known as Democracy Day. It is already a holiday in some states, including Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. In a selection of other states there are laws allowing employees to have time off work to vote, in some cases without losing any pay.
It is likely that many organizations, businesses and schools will be open as usual on Election Day and that public transit systems will run on their regular schedules. However, there is some disruption to public life on Election Day. Hence, it is a good idea to check if the appropriate organization is open if you have urgent business.
Background
In 1792, a law was passed allowing each of the states to conduct presidential elections at any point in the 34 days before the first Wednesday in December. This was the date when the meetings of the Electors of the U.S. president and vice-president, known as the Electoral Colleges, were held in each state. A date in November or early December was preferable because the harvest would have been finished, but the most severe winter storms would not have begun.
As long distance communication improved and became quicker with the advent of trains and telegraphs, allowing each state to conduct its elections at any point in a period of more than a month, became outdated. The results of the elections that were announced earliest could influence the outcomes of elections held later in the permitted period.
In 1845 the United States Congress chose a single date for all national elections in all states. The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November was chosen so that there would never be more than 34 days between Election Day and the first Wednesday in December. Election Day is held on a Tuesday so that voters will not have to vote or travel on Sunday. This was an important consideration at the time when the laws were written and is still so in some Christian communities in the United States.
In 2008 Barack Obama was the first African American to be elected as president of the United States. This historic event realizes Martin Luther King Jr’s dreams for a nation where people would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. On Inauguration Day, which is on January 20 every four years, the president and vice-president of the United States of America are sworn in and take office.
Election Day Observances
Select another year-range:1777–1799 1800–1849 1850–1899 1900–1949 1950–1999 1980–2015 2000–2049 2050–2099 2100–2149 2150–2199 2200–2249 2250–2299 2300–2349 2350–2399 2400–2449 2450–2499 2500–2549 2550–2599 2600–2649 2650–2699 2700–2749 2750–2799 2800–2849 2850–2899 2900–2949 2950–2999 3000–3049 3050–3099 3100–3149 3150–3199 3200–3249 3250–3299 3300–3349 3350–3399 3400–3449 3450–3499 3500–3549 3550–3599 3600–3649 3650–3699 3700–3749 3750–3799 3800–3849 3850–3899 3900–3949 3950–3999
Weekday Date Year Name Holiday type Where it is observed
Tue Nov 4 1980 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 2 1982 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 6 1984 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 4 1986 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 8 1988 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 6 1990 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 3 1992 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 8 1994 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 5 1996 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 3 1998 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 7 2000 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 5 2002 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 2 2004 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 7 2006 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 4 2008 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 2 2010 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 6 2012 Election Day Observance
Tue Nov 4 2014 Election Day Observance
Related holiday
Other holidays in November 2010 in United States
•All Saints' Day (Monday, November 1, 2010)
•All Saints (Monday, November 1, 2010)
•General Election Day (Some States) (Tuesday, November 2, 2010)
•All Souls' Day (Tuesday, November 2, 2010)
•Return Day Delaware (Thursday, November 4, 2010)
•Diwali/Deepavali (Friday, November 5, 2010)
•International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (Saturday, November 6, 2010)
•Daylight Saving Time ends (Sunday, November 7, 2010)
•World Science Day for Peace and Development (Wednesday, November 10, 2010)
•Veterans Day (Thursday, November 11, 2010)
•World Diabetes Day (Sunday, November 14, 2010)
•International Day for Tolerance (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)
•Eid-al-Adha (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)
•World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)
•World Philosophy Day (Thursday, November 18, 2010)
•International Men's Day (Friday, November 19, 2010)
•Universal Children's Day (Saturday, November 20, 2010)
•Africa Industrialization Day (Saturday, November 20, 2010)
•World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (Sunday, November 21, 2010)
•World Television Day (Sunday, November 21, 2010)
•Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 25, 2010)
•International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (Thursday, November 25, 2010)
•Black Friday (Friday, November 26, 2010)
•American Indian Heritage Day (Friday, November 26, 2010)
•First Sunday Advent (Sunday, November 28, 2010)
•International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Monday, November 29, 2010)
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•Countdown to New Year
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