I wrote this back in the summer but it never seemed to fit.  So here it is: 

This is completely random but with the democrats threatening every so often to move the primary date to make Maryland a larger player on the National stage, I did some research on Election Day. For those of you who did not know, this year's primary election date is Tuesday, September 12 and the general election date is Tuesday, November 7. I did not know this before I looked into it but Tuesday and November were chosen for a reason. November was chosen because the fall harvest was complete and the weather in most of the country was mild enough to allow for travel. It was quite an ordeal to have to travel to the county seat to vote and many were not willing to travel on Sunday so a Monday election was out of the question. Spring planting and tending the fields throughout the summer made them undesirable seasons to place Election Day. I found some reference to All Saints Day which is November 1st. So in order to avoid Sunday travel and All Saints Day the first Tuesday on or after November 2nd was declared Election Day. You may have already known that but I found that interesting.

Since we are no longer an agrarian society, and travel is much easier, maybe we should consider moving Election Day to a Saturday. I have been trying to think of the problems that this may cause and the only one I can think of is long lines at the polls. I have heard the statistics that "prove" high voter turnout favors democrats over Republicans. I am not sure I believe them though. I think the people that are most affected are working people who can not be bothered to go before work and by the time the kids are picked up from daycare and dinner is on the table it's 7:00 and then you have to go to the polls wait in line for an hour. Most just avoid the hassle and don't vote especially in the primary, which in Harford County is arguably the most important time to vote.

I have never been a fan of tradition for tradition’s sake. Yes, I know we would be changing 200 years of voting history but who cares. They chose Tuesday and November so that more people would be able to vote. I think changing Election Day to a Saturday would be done in the same spirit.