10 Things You Didn't Know About Election Day

1. The word ballot is derived from an Italian word for "little ball." Early voting boxes used tiny white balls to mark votes.

2. Elections are historically held in November because of the country's agrarian roots. November was after harvest season but before winter.

3. Some early Americans had to walk or take a horse and buggy—often taking a day each way—to vote at the county seat. Tuesday was chosen because it gave voters enough travel time without interfering with the Sabbath. It also didn't conflict with many towns' market day, which typically took place Wednesday.

4. Paper ballots were implemented in 1808. Parties could design their own tickets out of colored paper, and in many states voters could write in or cut and paste new names, or "pasters," to the ballot.

5. On Jan. 23, 1845, Congress chose the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day.

6. Absentee ballots were first used by Pennsylvania Union soldiers in the presidential election of 1864 while they were away fighting in the Civil War.

7. In the mid-1960s, the Votomatic vote recorder, which used a punch card and stylus system, gained popularity over the previously used gear-and-lever voting machine.

8. In 1971, the 26th Amendment changed the legal voting age from 21 to 18.

9. Local governments generally pay for the expenses of conducting elections. The federal government contributes only toward mailing military and overseas ballots.

10. New Jersey and Virginia are the only states holding statewide elections in 2009.

Sources:

• Smithsonian Institute
• NPR
• Cal Tech
• Library of Congress