Why Is Election Day on a Tuesday in the U.S., and How Many Other Countries Have Weekday Elections?

Note: Ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3, this analysis examines why elections take place on Tuesdays in the United States and how many other countries also have weekday elections. It’s an excerpt from a broader July 2026 analysis about the ways that American democracy stands out internationally.

Since the mid-19th century, Tuesday has been the standard day for U.S. elections (with certain exceptions). Back when the nation was primarily rural and all voting was in person, getting to and from a polling place often required long round-trip journeys. Sunday was out because many people were in church, and Wednesday was farmers market day. Tuesday seemed like the best fit.

About this research

Ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3, this analysis examines why elections take place on Tuesdays in the United States and how many other democratic countries also have weekday elections. It’s an excerpt from a broader July 2026 analysis about ways that American democracy stands out internationally. We categorized countries as democracies by combining ratings from three leading research organizations. For more information, visit the larger analysis.

More recently, some lawmakers have proposed moving Election Day to a weekend or making it a national holiday. Supporters say the current schedule often forces people to take time off work to vote, and making Election Day a day off for everyone would boost turnout. (As of 2023, 12 states and Puerto Rico already make Election Day a paid day off for state employees; Kentucky also does so, but only in presidential election years.)

As it stands, the United States is one of 28 democratic countries that routinely holds national elections on non-holiday weekdays. By contrast, 60 democracies typically hold elections on Saturdays or Sundays. (Then there’s the Czech Republic, which typically holds elections over a 24-hour period from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon.) Sixteen other democracies hold elections on weekdays but declare them public holidays.

Some countries hold elections on a fixed date instead of a set day of the week. Suriname, for instance, has held its general election on May 25 every five years since 2000. Its most recent election, in 2025, happened to fall on a Sunday, but that was by chance rather than by deliberate choice.

Drew DeSilver is a senior writer at Pew Research Center.