Election Day is tomorrow, and I don’t have to worry about standing in line because I voted early. Typically, more folks vote during a presidential election year. I guess they consider it the main event.
The 26th amendment to the Constitution passed on July 1, 1971, and gave the right to vote to citizens 18 years of age and older. But in 1943, Georgia became the first state to lower its voting age from 21 to 18 in state and local elections.
Did you ever wonder why we vote on Tuesdays? While I was researching voting rules, I discovered some interesting facts. It seems that way back in 1845, before automobiles, we traveled by horse and buggy. Farmers needed two days to travel to the county seat to vote. Most people were in church on Sunday and Wednesday was market day so Congress decided Tuesday would be best.
But why November? Spring and early summer would hinder planting and late summer and early fall would restrict harvesting. December, January and February winters would have made traveling much harder. So we owe the date of our Election Day to the farmers.
But regardless of your occupation, please get out and vote this Tuesday. One of my favorite quotes about elections came from Abraham Lincoln. He said “Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”
Make it a great day!