Before a specific day was chosen, there were concerns about the votes of one state influencing the voting of other neighboring states. In January 1845, Congress passed the legislation designating Election Day. November was chosen because the weather is temperate and the crops would be harvested, allowing more farmers to vote. Also, they did not want it to fall on November 1, All Saints' Day, a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics. The first and last days of the month were ruled out because many businessmen needed to complete their accounting books. Tuesday was chosen to allow one day of travel to the polling location since most could not travel on Sunday because of religious objections.

Source: Elections A to Z, Congressional Quarterly Inc.