Election Database

Definition

“A data file or set of files that contains geographic information about political subdivisions and boundaries; all contests and questions to be included in an election; and the candidates for each contest.” FVSS Appendix. Election Day 1. The day on which an election is held, whether in November or otherwise. 2. Art. I, Sec. 4 of the U. S. Constitution gives Congress authority the prescribe the time and method of choosing members of Congress: “T he Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.” Art. II Sec. 1 provides, in the case of electors for President and Vice-President, “The Congress may determin e the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.” Congress has exercised its power to determine a uniform date for presidential and Congressional elections: “The Tuesday next afte r the 1st Monday in November, in every even numbered year, is established as the day for the election, in each of the States and Territories of the United States, of Representatives and Delegates to the Congress commencing on the 3d day of January next thereafter.” 2 U. S. C. §7.