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GeeGit Explains · Sejarah & Bahasa

Kenapa pemilu Amerika selalu hari Selasa?

Why is US Election Day on a Tuesday?

Hari pemilu AS ditetapkan undang-undang tahun 1845, saat warga masih petani: Minggu untuk gereja, Senin untuk perjalanan, Rabu hari pasar.

Sampul short: Why is US Election Day on a Tuesday?

Short-nya segera tayang di YouTube @geegit

Penjelasannya

Banyak negara demokrasi memilih pada akhir pekan atau menjadikan hari pemilu hari libur nasional. Amerika justru memilih pada hari Selasa, di tengah minggu kerja.

Jawabannya ada pada undang-undang federal tahun 1845, ketika Amerika masih negeri petani. Perjalanan ke tempat pemungutan suara di ibu kota county memakan sehari penuh dengan kereta kuda. Minggu dikhususkan untuk gereja, dan Rabu adalah hari pasar. Maka petani berangkat Senin, mencoblos Selasa, lalu menjual hasil panen pada Rabu.

November dipilih karena panen musim gugur sudah selesai, sementara salju musim dingin belum menutup jalan tanah. Kuda dan kereta sudah lama hilang, tetapi jadwal petani berumur hampir dua abad itu masih mengatur kotak suara Amerika.

Diagram dari video

Diagram GeeGit: Many democracies vote on a weekend, or make election day a national holiday. But America votes on a Tuesday.
“Many democracies vote on a weekend, or make election day a national holiday. But America votes on a Tuesday.”
Diagram GeeGit: The answer goes back to a federal law passed in 1845, when America was a nation of rural farmers.
“The answer goes back to a federal law passed in 1845, when America was a nation of rural farmers.”
Diagram GeeGit: November was chosen because the autumn harvest was finally over, but winter snow hadn't blocked the dirt roads.
“November was chosen because the autumn harvest was finally over, but winter snow hadn't blocked the dirt roads.”
Transkrip video (English)

Many democracies vote on a weekend, or make election day a national holiday. But America votes on a Tuesday.

Why force millions of people to vote in the middle of a regular work week?

The answer goes back to a federal law passed in 1845, when America was a nation of rural farmers.

Back then, getting to the county polling place took a full day by horse and buggy. And Sundays were strictly reserved for church.

Wednesday was farmers' market day. So farmers set out on Monday, cast their ballots on Tuesday, and sold their crops on Wednesday.

November was chosen because the autumn harvest was finally over, but winter snow hadn't blocked the dirt roads.

Today, horses are gone, but that two-century-old farming schedule still rules the American ballot box.

Sumber

  • U.S. Congress (1845 Election Day Act)
  • Library of Congress

Diagram digambar ulang dan disederhanakan oleh GeeGit. Narasi video: suara AI.

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