Have you ever wondered why we vote on Tuesdays? Join us as we delve into the fascinating history behind this tradition, explored by our very own Managing Director, Nat Taylor.
For democracies around the world, Sunday is by far the most common election day. The United Kingdom is an outlier, holding its elections on Thursdays, and I recently asked an English friend why this is the case. The way he understood it, Friday was traditionally payday. By the following Thursday, people were running low on money, less likely to be visiting pubs, and therefore more likely to vote.
The United States is another outlier. We hold our elections on Tuesdays, the reason for which is rooted in our early history as a mostly rural, agrarian society. Before modernization and urbanization changed the cultural and economic landscape, most of the population of the United States lived in rural areas and earned their living through farming. While voting laws varied from state to state, for much of the first century of the United States, only white, land-owning men were eligible to vote.
Today, a trip into town is a breeze, but before the advent of paved roads, automobiles, and railroads, it was a serious journey for many people. As a result, Tuesday was the most convenient day to hold elections to accommodate the time necessary for voters to travel to their polling place. Voters rested on Sunday, travelled to their polling place on Monday, and voted on Tuesday. In many towns, Wednesday was market day, so holding elections on Tuesday also accommodated farmers to bring their goods with them to sell at the market the following day.
Our newest exhibit at the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center, Tracing the Past: Historical Maps of Williamson County, features maps that reveal the development of our region from a rural, western frontier to the energetic hub of commerce that we know today. Historical maps are windows to the past, and this exhibit shows the impact and evolution of the railroads and roadways that made transportation of goods and people much more convenient, created an interconnected network of towns and farms, and ushered in the era of modernization and urbanization. I invite everyone to visit the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center to enjoy this new exhibit and our many other offerings!
So the next time you step into a voting booth on a Tuesday, remember the historical context behind this tradition. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the past that continues to shape our present. We invite you to explore more of Williamson County’s rich history at the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center. Plan your visit HERE!