The Congress, in the year 1845, established Election Day in
response to abuses caused by the previous system of electing the President and
Vice-President. Under the old system, states could appoint electors at any time
within 34 days prior to the convening of electors in December.
Every four years, on Election Day, (Tuesday after the first
Monday in November), registered voters in the United States cast their votes
for presidential electors. Collectively, these electors form the Electoral College.
The number of electors per state is equal to the number in its Congressional
delegation. Thus, each state has at least three electors. Kansas has six electors
and Missouri has eleven. These electors meet on the first Tuesday after the
second Wednesday in December to elect the President and Vice-President.
There are tens of thousands of voting precincts in the United
States, each of which must be supplied and staffed with election judges on Election
Day, usually a workday in most of the country.
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