Can somebody please tell me ...

[Matilda]

why the election is always held on a Tuesday?

Wouldn't more people vote if it was on a Saturday? On Tuesday, people have to work and university students have classes - how many put voting in the "too hard" basket?

Is there an historical reason why it can't be changed?

[Major Nikon]

1. The short answer is tradition

Placing the voting day on the weekend was right out because many weren't going to travel on their sabbath and many people had two full days of travel to get to and from their voting location.

[Matilda]

2. I figured their must be a traditional reason,

but it doesn't make so much sense nowadays, not if they want a good turnout.

[LAGC]

4. Better turnout would favor Democrats.

There's no way Republicans would ever agree to move it to Saturday.

In their eyes, better to leave it at Tuesday and hope people are too busy with work/school and household stuff to bother to vote, especially if they have to put up with long lines.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. The way I heard it was:

Go to town on Saturday
Go to church on Sunday
Do important business on Monday
Vote and then go back home on Tuesday.

[Hamlette]

3. it is in the law

passed by congress 3 US Code Section 1 "The electors of President and Vice President shall be appointed, in each State, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year....“

[Recovered Repug]

5. As stated it's the law. As to why Tuesday was chosen,

that goes back to the 19th century. Here's an explanation.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/23/162484410/why-are-elections-on-tuesdays