Its the First Tuesday after the first Monday in November
In New Zealand, the day set aside for a national election is a Saturday. The date may vary, but commonly they are in November.
This is set by federal law as passed by Congress. (see the related question)
Tuesday
The Congress decided to set up Provincial Congress Committees across the country.
November 6. And the electoral college votes evey monday after the second wednesday in December...
The date is set by Congress. It is specified in United States Code, Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 7 to be the first Monday after the second Wednesday of the December after the appointment of the electors. I figured out that that is always the sixth Monday after Election Day.
November. It usually happens between the 2nd and 8th. But it always happens on Tuesday.
Many southerners believe that the the south no longer had a voice in national government. Also that the President and Congress were now set against their interests, especially slavery. Even before the election, South Carolina's governor had written to other southern governors. If Lincoln won, he wrote, it would be their duty to leave the Union.
In the UK the date for a General election is set by the Government, these are not an annual event but usually every four to five years.
Such is the date set by Congress a long time ago. One reason not to have the election on November 1 is that this day is All Saints Day, once a widely celebrated Christian church holiday in Britain and to some extent in the US. (All Saints' Eve aka Halloween .the day before. is now bigger in the US) Also, I think, if people remember that November is when they need to vote, having the election the first day might sneak on people , not give them adequate warning that they need to prepare to vote.
Problem is Congress has turned the debate over raising it into a national drama. It's a cap set by Congress on how much the federal government may have. The government shut down because Congress couldn't agree.
In the United States, federal Election day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The next federal election will be November 8, 2016. Presidential elections are held in years divisible by 4. Congressional elections are held in years divisible by 2.