Election Day

• Question 1 out of 10

  On which day is U.S. federal Election Day held?

  Under U.S. law, federal elections for President, Vice President, and Congress are held on “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November” in even-numbered years.

  The first Monday in November

  The Tuesday after the first Monday in November

  The first Tuesday in November

  The second Tuesday after the first Monday in November

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• Question 2 out of 10

  Why was the specific “Tuesday after the first Monday in November” chosen as Election Day?

  Historically, in the 19th century U.S., many voters were farmers who would travel to vote; Monday was a common market/travel day and Sunday was church, so Tuesday was practical. Congress formalized the date in 1845.

  It aligned with ancient Roman traditions

  It avoided Sundays (church day) and allowed travel after Monday market day

  It placed the election at the start of the harvest season

  It was the cheapest day for states to hold elections

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• Question 3 out of 10

  Which of the following is not a reason why states hold many local and state elections on the same day as the federal Election Day?

  The Constitution does not require state and local elections to align with the federal election. State/local races often align for convenience and cost, but are not mandated by the federal constitution.

  Cost savings by sharing infrastructure

  Increased voter turnout due to consolidation

  Because the Constitution requires all state elections to align with federal elections

  For convenience of voters

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• Question 4 out of 10

  Which mechanism ensures that the winner of the U.S. presidential election is not determined purely by the nationwide popular vote?

  The U.S. president is elected indirectly: voters choose electors in each state, who then cast the electoral votes.

  Popular Vote Amendment

  Direct Election Clause

  The Electoral College

  Senate Certification Act

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• Question 5 out of 10

  In which election did a candidate win the popular vote but lose the presidency?

  There are multiple instances: in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016 a candidate won the popular vote but did not win the presidency.

  1824

  1876

  2000

  All of the above

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• Question 6 out of 10

  Which of the following elections triggered the end of Reconstruction in the U.S.?

  The contested election of Rutherford B. Hayes vs. Samuel J. Tilden led to the Compromise of 1877 and the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction.

  1828

  1868

  1876

  1896

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• Question 7 out of 10

  Which amendment changed the procedure so that electors in the Electoral College cast separate votes for President and Vice President?

  The election of 1800 exposed flaws in the original system; the 12th Amendment (ratified 1804) revised the procedure.

  11th Amendment

  12th Amendment

  15th Amendment

  22nd Amendment

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• Question 8 out of 10

  Who was the first president elected under the Republican Party?

  Lincoln won the presidency in 1860 as the first successful Republican candidate, defeating Stephen Douglas and others.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Ulysses S. Grant

  John C. Frémont

  Franklin Pierce

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• Question 9 out of 10

  Which U.S. president won the greatest share of the popular vote in history?

  FDR captured about 61 percent of the popular vote—still the highest percentage for any modern U.S. president.

  Lyndon B. Johnson (1964)

  Franklin D. Roosevelt (1936)

  Richard Nixon (1972)

  Warren G. Harding (1920)

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• Question 10 out of 10

  Which third-party candidate won the most electoral votes in U.S. history?

  Running under the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party, Roosevelt earned 88 electoral votes and finished second behind Woodrow Wilson.

  Theodore Roosevelt (1912)

  George Wallace (1968)

  Ross Perot (1992)

  Robert La Follette (1924)

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