Name: Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?
Uploaded: 2019-10-30T16:26:14Z
Duration: 3 min 21 s
Description: Since 1845, Americans have been voting on Tuesdays -- but why? In this humorous talk, Jacob Soboroff shares the history of Election Day and shows how voting on a Tuesday affects voter turnout. [Directed by TED-Ed].

Jacob Soboroff: Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?

Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?

Since 1845, Americans have been voting on Tuesdays -- but why? In this humorous talk, Jacob Soboroff shares the history of Election Day and shows how voting on a Tuesday affects voter turnout. [Directed by TED-Ed].

Voter turnout in the United States lags behind most countries, ranking 138th out of 172 nations. The choice of Tuesday as Election Day traces back to an 1845 law meant for a horse-and-buggy era, not modern life. Even prominent elected officials cannot explain this tradition, which now creates unnecessary obstacles for many voters. A push to move elections to the weekend could help reshape participation in American democracy.