Election Day
Election Day in the United States is the Tuesday following the first Monday of November, i.e. the Tuesday between November 2 and November 8, inclusively. This rule was instituted by Congress in 1845. It is the day when polls most often open for the election of elected public officials. Many social activists oppose this date, believing that it decreases voter turnout, since it is part of the workweek. Many advocate making election day a national holiday. Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires that any election for President must occur on a single day throughout the country; elections for Congressional offices, however, can be held at different times.
Election Day in the United Kingdom is by tradition a Thursday, but the date for general elections is not fixed by law. Most other European countries hold all Elections on Sundays.
US Federal Elections
Elective offices of the US Government are filled by Election Day balloting, for terms starting in January of the following year, specifically:
- in every even-numbered year,
- additionally, in years divisible by four,
US State Elections
Elective offices of most states of the US are also filled on Election Day, but different states choose different patterns; every odd numbered year, for at least some offices, is a popular choice. Most states now hold elections for governors in those even-numbered years when there is not a presidential election, in part to stimulate a higher voter turnout for "off-year" Congressional elections.
US Local Elections
Elective offices of municipalities, counties (in most states), and other local entities (such school boards and other special-purpose districts) have their elections subject to rules of their state, and in some states, they vary according to choices of the jurisdiction in question. (For instance, in Connecticut, all towns, cities, and boroughs hold elections in every odd-numbered year, but as of 2004, 16 have them on the first Monday in May, while the other hundred-and-some are on Election Day.)
UK General Elections
A General Election in the UK follows the dissolution of Parliament by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of the day. The Prime Minister thus has the power to choose the date of the election. Thursday has been the customary day to hold elections since the 1930s.
Historically, elections took place over the course of a four-week period until 1918. Election day was then as follows:
- 14 December 1918 - Saturday
- 15 November 1922 - Wednesday
- 6 December 1923 - Thursday
- 29 October 1924 - Wednesday
- 30 May 1929 - Thursday
- 27 October 1931 - Tuesday
- 14 October 1935 - Thursday
and elections have been on Thursdays since then.
Other UK Elections
Local elections in the UK are by statute held on the first Thursday in May. This has been changed in recent years: in 2001 they were delayed while an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease was dealt with, and in 2004 they were delayed to coincide with elections for the European Parliament. But they were eventually held on Thursdays.
Byelections and other UK elections are also invariably held on Thursdays.
See Also: election, U.S. presidential election, United Kingdom general elections, holidays, US state
