Today in History: Uniform Presidential Election Day


Today in History–November 4–the Library of Congress features the passage of legislation on this day in 1845 requiring a uniform election day for President of the United States on the: “Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November of the year in which they are to be appointed.” The 1848 election was the first presidential election in which Americans in every state voted on the same day. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below for more presidential resources.

Elections interactive activity (teacher guide)

Primary Source Investigation: Campaign

Presidential Elections & the Electoral College: Proceedings of the Electoral Commission of 1877

American Memory Timeline: The Presidential Election of 1960

Presidential elections of the United States 1789-1876 (map)

Selected Presidential Campaign prints: 1836-1908

Presidential Election images from American Memory

More presidential election images

Political cartoons

Topics in Chronicling America historic newspaper guides

LC Web Archives: United States Election 2000

United States & International Election Law online

Campaigning for President Library of Congress Blog January 24, 2017

Election Day Collection Coverage Library of Congress Blog November 8, 2016

Primary Source Learning: Presidential Elections activities & lessons

U.S. Presidents primary source collections & teaching resources

Recommended Resources outside the Library