This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s an important historical birthday for the United States, and we will be celebrating it all year-round with our new Free to Be series. With respect to Marlo Thomas, our Free to Be posts will be celebrating unique freedoms we enjoy as Americans. And this month, we’re looking at how we’re free to vote.
Election Day is a month away, but here in Arkansas, early voting begins on Monday, October 19.
In the Constitution, our Founding Fathers left decisions on voting logistics up to states (which continues to be true for many aspects of voting), so it wasn’t until 1845, nearly 60 years after the Constitution was ratified, that we had a national Election Day. Before then, states could select their voting day within a 34-day voting window before the 1st Wednesday in December.
But why did Congress select the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November that we still follow? At the time, America was largely an agrarian nation, and that timing was most ideal for farmers. Spring, summer, and fall were too busy with planting, cultivating, and harvesting for people to travel to the polls. And winter could have weather too hazardous for travel. So, November was the best bet for voters both having the time to vote and being able to travel safely to do so.
As for why Tuesdays, this was also the best day for most people. Since many people attended church on Sundays and market days tended to be Wednesdays, Tuesday was selected as a day that would be easiest for people who needed to travel to the polls but also wouldn’t interfere with their regular weekly schedules. At this time, travel was by horseback and could possibly take a couple of days for voting, depending on where the polling site was located.
At the Berryville Library, 250 years after our nation’s founding, you can always stop by to pick up a voter registration form. You will then need to mail the form or personally return it to the County Clerk’s office to register. Do be aware that the deadline to register to vote in this midterm election here in Arkansas was Monday, October 5. This means that you won’t be eligible to vote in the midterm if you register now, but you will then be registered for the next election.
You can also check out VoterView, on the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website, to check your registration and see your sample ballot.
And if you’re curious about learning more about the 4 ballot issues being voted on this year, check out this nonpartisan guide that breaks down the arguments for and against each measure.
Thank you, America, for our right (and responsibility) to vote!
The following article was very helpful in preparing this post:
Evan Andrews, “Why Is Election Day 2026 a Tuesday in November?” History.com. October 30, 2013. Updated September 3, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/why-is-election-day-a-tuesday-in-november
Have you registered to vote? Tell us in the comments!
