Harris, Confusion here, I believe, between the time for the states to chuse their Electors -- and the Day on which they (Electors) shall give their Votes <-- this Day for Electors was established by Congress in 1792 as a common date _throughout the US_. Congress didn't *avoid* setting a date for choosing Electors: first the date was anytime during a 34-day period, that date to be chosen by each state, then a common date for all states was established in 1845. As I indicated previously, this and more is explained via public internet sources for personal research, nothing complicated. I don't intend to enter into a discussion about this topic, I was simply trying to correct a mis-statement about our founders and help any interested parties better understand. Good luck with your research, Neil McDonald ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harris Kern" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 3:26 PM Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Voting day >I stand connected on the "first,etc..", but since Article 2, Section 1 >states: > "The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day > on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same > throughout the United States" > > How did the congress avoid setting a date until 1845? > > Harris Kern > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "macbd1" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 3:59 PM > Subject: Re: Voting day > > >> Our founders did not establish this 'first Tuesday after first Monday' >> voting practice; a uniform date for chosing presidential Electors was >> first instituted by the U.S. Congress in 1845 although there are still >> exceptions amongst the states. Any search engine (I prefer Google) will >> reveal 'many' sources that explain and discuss the whys and wherefores. >> Simply enter the quoted phrase as the search term. More details may be >> learned from a Google *book* search using the same search term. >> Hope this helps. >> Neil McDonald >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Harris Kern" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 12:53 PM >> Subject: [VA-HIST] Voting day >> >> >> Do any of the founder's papers speak of why "the first Tuesday after the >> first Monday". Seems rather complicated, but there must have been a >> reason to make it so. I'm sure we can think up all kinds of reason that >> could have been in play at the time, but did any of the participants >> write down what actual reasoning went into the formalization of "the >> first Tuesday after the first Monday"? >> >> Harris Kern >> >