Fascinating!

[arcadiagt5]

I've finally seen an good explanation for why the Congress of 1845 decided that the United States should vote on a Tuesday.

The intent  was promote participation in elections for reasons that, in their historical context, still make perfect sense.

Of course, those reasons don't make as much sense now, but sometimes traditions (especially traditions backed by venerated laws) can be hard to challenge.

Comments

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

Especially in the US: look at their one-size-fits-all banknotes (preferably under a strong light, so you can tell a $1 from a $100), their sticking to imperial measurements, the electoral college, their heathcare system, their gun laws...

Part of the problem, I suspect, comes down to having 15 times as many people as Australia, and more than 8 times as many states. It creates a lot of inertia.

[arcadiagt5.livejournal.com]

To be fair some of those are part of the US Constitution and the Australian record of Constitutional reform isn't anything to brag about...