The reason why the US presidential election is always held on Tuesdays

The day is finally here, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the day America decides on who will be the next US president.

If polls are to be believed, the 2024 races appears to be the closest battle for The White House ever, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battling for every single vote.

While the US election is taking place today (5 November), over half of Americans are believed to have already placed their vote.

As to when we can expect the president-elect to be formally confirmed, well, that could be as early as Wednesday morning, or we could even be waiting days.

Your guess is as good as mine.

But stepping away from Trump vs Harris for a moment, you may have clocked that the US presidential election is always held on Tuesdays.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are battling it out for the keys to The White House (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

In fact, elections in the US have been held on the Tuesday after the first Monday for decades - but why is that?

Elections used to vary by state, but a law that was passed in 1845 meant a single election day for the entirety of the United States was brought in.

Back then, farmers made up the majority of the labor work force in the US, with much of their year taken up by busy things on the farm.

November was seen as a good time to vote, because the harvest was over, meaning famers had time to go out and vote for their preferred candidate.

So, why Tuesday out of all the days?

Well, Sunday was traditionally seen as a rest day back then, with Christians seeing it as a day of worship.

For these farmers, Wednesday was often seen as a market day, with long travel days even required for famers to sell their crops.

The US presidential election is always held in November (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

This would eliminate Mondays and Thursdays from becoming a polling day, so it was Tuesday that was ultimately seen as the best option.

As for it being the 'after the first Monday' in November, that prevents a US presidential election happening on November 1.

The first day of the month was seen as a no-go because some Christians would celebrate All Saints' Day, while farmers would often use November 1 to settle the books.

But of course, the number of farmers in the US has decreased massively over the years, with less than two percent of Americans working in agriculture today.

Nonetheless, having the US presidential election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November has remained a staple in American politics, and it probably won't change anytime soon.

UNILAD/Getty

What are the swing states for the 2024 US election?

These are the states that have seen very similar levels of support for Republican nominee former POTUS Donald Trump, and the Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris ahead of the US election.

Arizona

In 2016, Trump won Arizona when he became president, but in 2020, he lost it narrowly to President Joe Biden.

A recent poll conducted by Emerson College and The Hill between October 30 - November 2 with 900 likely voters showed Trump with 50 percent and Harris with 48 percent.

Georgia

Trump also won the state of Georgia in 2016, but once again lost it to President Biden in 2020 by fewer than 12,000 votes.

This marked the first time a Democratic candidate had won the state since Bill Clinton in 1992.

Similarly to Arizona, Emerson College's poll in Georgia out of 800 likely voters showed Trump with 50 percent and Harris with 49 percent.

Michigan

After almost three decades of being a Democratic state, Trump won Michigan in 2016. But the state flipped in President Biden's favor in 2020.

The recent poll in Michigan by Emerson College stands at 50 percent for Harris and 48 percent for Trump out of 790 likely voters.

Nevada

Nevada has been a blue state for the last four presidential elections, but this time around, the possibility is high of it flipping and becoming a red state.

The recent poll conducted with 790 likely voters came gave a complete tie, with both Trump and Harris showing 48 percent.

North Carolina

This usually Republican state is still recovering from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, but the poll of 860 likely voters came out at 49 percent for Trump and 48 percent for Harris.

Pennsylvania

President Biden took the state of Pennsylvania after Trump won it in 2020, but the poll of 1,000 likely voters is leaning ever so slightly in Trump's favour - he's showing 49 percent, while Harris shows 48 percent.

Wisconsin

A classically Democratic state, Wisconsin was flipped by Trump in 2016. But it was flipped back in 2020 by President Biden, and the recent poll of 800 likely voters has given a tie between Trump and Harris, with both showing 48 percent.