It was in 1845 that Congress decided Election Day would be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. At that time, first of all, there was no weekend. Sunday was the Sabbath, and the other 6 days were work days. People were not supposed to travel on the Sabbath, so the election had to be held on a day that would allow people to not need to travel on the Sabbath. Since sometimes the polling place was a ways away from people and they might have to travel on foot or by horse, Tuesday allows them to travel Monday and vote Tuesday. Travel Wednesday, and return home that day or the next. Then the subesquent days of the week could be used for counting up the votes.