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General Election Day
occurs on the first
Tuesday after the first
Monday in November.
United States senators
and congressmen are
elected every two years,
in even numbered years.
The presidential
election occurs every
four years in years
divisible by four (2000,
2004, 2008, 2012, etc.).
Elections held in odd
numbered years are often
used for local mayoral
elections and other
municipal offices and
citizen initiatives.
The Tuesday after the
first Monday in November
was initially
established in 1845 (US
Code Title 3, Chapter 1)
for the appointment of
Presidential electors in
every fourth year.
US
Code Title 2, Chapter 1,
Section 7 established
this date for electing
U.S. Representatives in
every even numbered year
in 1875. Finally,
US
Code Title 2, Chapter 1
established this date as
the time for electing
U.S. Senators in 1914.
Americans observed
the first uniform
election day on November
4, 1845 in accordance
with Congressional
legislation passed
earlier that year. The
law, which ensured the
simultaneous selection
of presidential electors
in each state, increased
the power of political
parties and reflected
the democratization of
presidential politics
which had taken place
since 1820.
As late as 1816, the
citizens of nine states
did not vote in
presidential elections.
Instead, previously
elected state
legislators chose the
presidential electors
who then determined the
outcome of the contest.
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