why was there such a long period between election day and inauguration day?
916288
Back when the Inauguration Day was March 4th, it usually took a month for the Electoral College to get to Washington, and then the news get back out to the States.\nWhy - because of horse and buggy - they didn't have the Internet.\nAnd no airlines!\n\ngreat question\n\nnow here's your bonus for 100 points\n\nWho was the last President to be inaugurated March 4th and also the first to be inaugurated January 20th.\n\n(hint - a 20th century President)\n(hint - he was the only President elected to four terms)
439902
Because one president, Grover Cleveland, was both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. He is the only person to have served two non-consecutive terms.
585195
Well there will be drives happening just before any election.The public will be informed about these drives through newspapers,TV etc,.Keep your eyes and ears open and go to your concerned center on the announced date
178565
A French Diplomat said in the late 1700's that the Democracy would last only as long as it took for the masses to realize that they could vote themselves money out of the public trough.\n\nThat's happening now.  Ineligible people are on welfare and unemployment, illegals are clogging our services, and "progressive" politicians are voting more and more benefits.
729235
Yes.  President Harrison (9th president) was only in office for 32 days.  He caught pneumonia during his inauguration speech, and died a month later.
131624
Election for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States is indirect, for which voting takes place every four years on Election Day. Although ballots typically list the names of the presidential candidates, voters within the 50 states and the District of Columbia actually choose electors when they vote for President and Vice President. These presidential electors in turn cast the official votes for those two offices.\n\nIn most states and in the District of Columbia, the plurality winner of the popular vote for President within that state receives all of the state's electors, while all other candidates receive none. Only in Maine and Nebraska does the election follow a model more closely based on Congressional Elections: For each congressional district in those two states, the plurality winner of that district receives one district elector ("Representative-like" elector, so to speak), while the two at-large electors ("Senator-like" electors) are given to the plurality winner of the whole state. This method has been used in Maine since 1972 and Nebraska since 1996, though neither has ever split its electoral votes.\n\nEach state's electors meet in their respective state capitals in December, 41 days following the election, at which time they cast their electoral votes. Thus the Electoral College never meets as one body. The electoral votes are then sealed and sent to the President of the Senate (i.e. the sitting Vice President of the United States), who retains them until the new Congress convenes in January. At that time, the votes are opened and counted in the presence of both houses of Congress. The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes for President becomes President, and the candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes for Vice President becomes Vice President.\n\nIf no candidate for President receives an absolute electoral majority, then the new House of Representatives is required to go into session immediately to vote for President. In this case, the House of Representatives chooses from the three candidates who received the most electoral votes. The House votes en-bloc by state for this purpose (that is, one vote per state, which is determined by the majority decision of the delegation from that state; if a state delegation is evenly split that state is considered as abstaining). This vote would be repeated if necessary until one candidate receives the votes of more than half the state delegations—at least 26 state votes, given the current number, 50, of states in the union.\n\nIf no candidate for Vice President receives an absolute majority of electoral votes, then the United States Senate must do the same, with the top two vote getters for that office as candidates. The Senate votes in the normal manner in this case, not by States. It is unclear if the sitting Vice President would be entitled to cast his usual tie-breaking vote if the Senate should be evenly split on the matter.\n\nIf the House of Representatives has not chosen a winner in time for the inauguration (noon on January 20), then the Constitution of the United States specifies that the new Vice President becomes Acting President until the House selects a President. If the winner of the Vice Presidential election is not known by then either, then under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, the Speaker of the House of Representatives would become Acting President until the House selects a President or the Senate selects a Vice President.\n\nIt is unclear what would happen if a President has been selected but the Senate remains deadlocked on a Vice President past Inauguration Day. On the one hand, the Twelfth Amendment specifies that the Senate should choose the Vice President, and it does not admit of a time limit on the selection process. On the other hand, the Twenty-Fifth Amendment allows the President to nominate a Vice President if a vacancy should occur.\n\nAs of 2006,
914429
Initially, when voting first began, people had to travel to polling places and it would take the weekend,and sometimes monday,also it's held in november, because it was the end of harvest
819268
Whenever we have an election in Australia  it is always held on a Saturday whether it is a state or Federal election . This is presumably held on a Saturday so more voters can get to their polling booth to vote.
717186
See it is very straight forward. What matter for politician is votes because that is what keep them in power. Now if all these students are protesting and doing all these things then why did not they came out in same proportion when election happened. At that time instead of going to polling booth they choose to spend that voting day holiday for enjoying picnic or watching/ playing cricket match. To go for vote is against there status or they consider that as waste of time. Unless and until you bring your representative in power why you want someone to listen to you. Either you maintain 'Till it does not bother me' policy which ended up in two world wars then you cannot expect better. So moral of the story is instead of coming out when it hits us it is better come out during election time and get sensible person elected.
895047
During this time after a major midterm election or any election you have a period of transition which is called a "Lame Duck Session" During that time Congress will only meet during a time of crisis. When the inauguration happens in January then the 110th Congress of the United States will have it's first session. At that time they will be back in session.
945963
This was a Mid-Term Election where only a part of the House and Senate are elected. We do it that way so government does not have a nonfunctional period.
898970
Around here it was the Monday before election day Tuesday
137893
My understanding was that the election directly caused the start of secession of states in the South from the union since Lincoln was known for his stand on slavery. The crisis was already at a boiling point by that time already due to non-handling/concessions on slavery of previous administrations.
430689
Because he came before the law limiting Presidents to two terms.  Up until that point, it was just an unofficial rule, accepted because Washington served two terms.  Since he was elected to four terms, his opposing party made the law as soon as they had control of congress.
797757
During the Midterm Elections (Even-numbered years that aren't Presidential elections), 33 Senators are up for election, all 435 House seats are up for election, and most State level positions (Governor, State legislature, etc.)\n\nIn addition, many ballot initiatives are put to a vote.  Everything from defining marriage between a man and a woman, raising the minimum wage, local school levys, etc. etc.\n\nThe most important national change is that the most of Congress is elected and roughly 60% of the Governors are elected.  Good luck learning more about the electoral process, it's very interesting and can be a lot of fun to keep track of.  At the very least, it can help you be an educated voter when that fateful Tuesday in November comes.
36548
the 2000 election was stolen in Florida.  that's the short answer.\n\nthe long answer is because our electoral system is out dated, the campaign finance laws are easily broken, and the polticial system is largly corrupt.  Just like Bushie.
854675
Because of politics and religion.