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How did the first Tuesday of November become the traditional Election Day? According to a Campaign Legal Center online article from 2021, Congress in 1845 selected the most convenient day to hold a vote for the greatest number of voters at the time — farmers.
Saturdays and Sundays were religious days and Wednesdays were market days. Since farmers may have needed Monday to travel to a polling location, the first Tuesday after the fall harvest proved to be the most convenient day for most voters.
Now, in many states across the nation, early voting is offered. It allows those registered to cast their ballot before the traditional Election Day, which this year is Nov. 3
In 2024, there were nearly 86 million voters who participated in person or by mail. "In 2024, Election Day voting did not rebound to the levels it was at before 2020," notes the University of Maryland Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement. "Roughly 45% of voters waited until Election Day to vote in 2024 compared to more than 60% in 2016."
If you are a registered Pennsylvania voter, you have the option of applying for a mail ballot in person at their county elections office, then completing the ballot while there. In one visit, voters can apply for and submit their mail ballot.
When ballots are ready, you can request, receive, vote and submit your mail-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county election office or other designated location. With this option, there is no need for mail at all, and you can submit your vote at your convenience.
In addition, you can vote in person by mail ballot at your county election office or other officially designated location. You may drop off your mail ballot in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day, so long as you have applied for it before the deadline. The deadline to apply for a ballot in-person for the 2026 general election is 5 p.m. Oct. 27.
In response to our weekly poll, "Do you think Pennsylvania should have an early voting option at polling locations?" there was a 50% split with half saying yes and the other half saying no.
This week's poll question: Are you pleased with the work being done by U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman?