There must be some practical reason for continuing to hold national elections in the United States on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Unfortunately, I have no earthly idea what it might be. Most holidays and commemorative events have a basis in tradition or law and, moving them would serve no useful purpose.
Christmas, for example, could be moved to April or May; the time of year that more historically approximates the actual birth of Christ. Such a move would, however, play havoc with tradition. Who wants a snow covered Christmas tree in spring? Bing Crosby would have to move his White Christmas to Winnipeg. Thanksgiving could just as easily be celebrated in April, to remember the Pilgrims survival of that cruel first winter in America. Labor Day could be held on April 16th, the day after we file our taxes. Nevertheless, most of our holidays are firmly fixed in our minds and our calendars so that moving them would cause unnecessary angst.
Not so with Election Day. The reasons for holding our elections on a November Tuesday are as out of date as John McCain's ties. Wikipedia tells us that the date was chosen in 1845 during the presidency of James K. Polk.
November was agreed upon because by then, the crops were in and the winter had yet to close the roads. These were good reasons...in 1845. In 2008 it makes about as much sense as transmitting the election results by telegraph.
Tuesday was decided on because: Sunday was out of the question, it being the Sabbath and, Monday voting might include a requirement to travel on Sunday. Apparently the Christian Right had a pretty powerful lobby even in 1945. Anyway, the upshot of all this is that America makes its most vital decision on a day that is inconvenient and wholly arbitrary.
To avoid changing the date of our elections and still attemping to increase voter turnout, various states and the federal government have tried several gimmicks. Some states closed the bars when the polls were open (based presumably on the odd notion that sober people make better decisions). Nine states have made Election Day a holiday including New York and New Jersey. Their choice of Eliot Spitzer and James McGreevey speaks to the wisdom of that idea. Many states permit early voting (up to two weeks prior to November) while in Oregon, all ballots are cast by mail. All of these ideas bypass the central question: why not move Election Day to a weekend? Or why not record all votes by computer online?
The second thought first. I can deposit money in a bank in the U.S. and withdraw it anywhere in the world via the local ATM. I do this without fear that my account will be hacked or that anyone (except the purveyors of the Patriot Act) can access my records. With the technology currently available, the city of London can track and record every car that enters its downtown area for the purpose of collecting city tolls. We should therefore be able to collect, record and protect the millions of ballots cast by the electorate.
The other phase of the change would move Election Day to the weekend. Keeping the "polls" open Saturday and Sunday would allow voters to cast ballots at their leisure. Folks without computers could go to libraries or schools where computers would be made available. All you would need is a social security number and your date of birth. We could even retain the tradition of voting in November because the federal law requires that there be time for the electoral college to assemble. (We'll attack the electoral college some other time.)
The principle impediment to change is the Constitutional provision that, both local and national elections , be administered by the states. Trying to force all fifty states to change their systems (even those as quaint as Florida) is a mountain no one wants to climb. Sadly, if we continue to conduct elections in 2008 by the rules laid down in 1845, we are doomed to spend Nov 5th reading story after story about low voter turnout and polling places rife with fraud and incompetence. Citizens arise! Throw off your chains! You have nothing to lose but your shackles...and a free day off in New Jersey.
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