COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- If a Tuesday in November when many people work seems like a random time to hold elections, blame 19th-century farmers.

Federal statute places Election Day on the Tuesday that falls between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8, or the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The date was chosen in 1845 by Congress, which sought to establish one set date for all Americans. See previous coverage of this upcoming Election Day in the video player above.

Before 1845, states could hold elections any time they wanted to within the 34 days before the Electoral College met in the first week of December. According to Congress, election results in earlier voting states began to influence results in later ones, creating concerns about fraud as travel and communication became faster.

Congres

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