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How did the first Tuesday of November become the traditional Election Day? According to a Campaign Legal Center online article from 2021, Congress in 1845 selected the most convenient day to hold a vote for the greatest number of voters at the time -- farmers.
Saturdays and Sundays were religious days and Wednesdays were market days. Since farmers may have needed Monday to travel to a polling location, the first Tuesday after the fall harvest proved to be the most convenient day for most voters.
Times have obviously changed, which led to early voting beginning in New York state in 2019. For a period of nine days, Chautauqua County voters can head to four sites prior to the election to cast their ballot. This year, that span begins on Saturday, Oct. 24 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1.
Numbers for early voting continue to increase across the nation. In 2024, there were nearly 86 million voters who participated in person or by mail. “In 2024, Election Day voting did not rebound to the levels it was at before 2020,” notes the University of Maryland Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement. “Roughly 45% of voters waited until Election Day to vote in 2024 compared to more than 60% in 2016.”
According to this week's poll, Election Day remains a slight favorite for many who plan to vote. Regarding our question, "Do you plan to cast your ballot on Election Day or during early voting?" 50% said Election Day; 42% preferred early voting and 8% said they do not plan to vote.
This week’s poll question: Who do you blame more for the high tax burden in Chautauqua County?