30 Surprising Facts About U.S. Elections: From Booze Budgets to "OK" Presidents

The American electoral system is more than just a race for the White House; it is a 200-year-old collection of strange traditions, accidental inventions, and record-breaking statistics. Whether you are a political junkie or just curious about how things work across the ocean, these 30 facts reveal the quirks behind the ballots.

Historical Milestones & Laws

The Global Standings: The United States currently ranks 139th out of 172 countries in terms of voter turnout.

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The First Machines: Modern voting began in 1892, the first year a mechanical voting machine was used.

The Property Rule: It wasn't until 1856 that Congress removed the requirement for citizens to own property in order to vote.

Why Tuesday? In 1845, Congress picked the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for Election Day. It was timed after the autumn harvest but before winter weather made travel impossible for farmers.

The Qualifications: The Constitution lists only three requirements for a president: they must be at least 35 years old, have lived in the U.S. for 14 years, and be a natural-born citizen.

The First "American": Martin Van Buren was the first president actually born as a U.S. citizen (1837). Every president before him was born as a British subject.

The Oath: The presidential oath is written directly into the Constitution. However, placing a hand on the Bible or saying "So help me God" are traditions, not legal requirements.

Election Day Cake: In the 1700s and 1800s, women would bake massive "Election Cakes" filled with fruit and spices to encourage men to travel to town and cast their ballots.

Presidential "Firsts" & Records

Tall vs. Short: Abraham Lincoln remains the tallest president at 193 cm, while James Madison was the shortest at just 163 cm.

The Hospital Birth: Jimmy Carter was the very first US president to be born in a hospital.

Southpaw Leaders: James Garfield was the first left-handed president in U.S. history.

Family Ties: Millard Fillmore was the first president to have a stepmother.

Doctor in the House: William Henry Harrison was the only president to have studied to become a medical doctor.

Age Records: Joe Biden is the oldest elected president (78), while John F. Kennedy remains the youngest elected president at 43.

The Non-Partisan: George Washington is the only president in history who did not represent a political party.

Marital History: Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are the only presidents to have been married more than once before their election.

The Name Change: Bill Clinton was born as William Jefferson Blythe; he formally took his stepfather's surname at age 15.

Bizarre & Unique Moments

The Campaign Bar: George Washington once spent his entire campaign budget on 605 liters of alcohol to serve to potential voters.

Speeding Tickets: Ulysses S. Grant was once fined $20 for driving his horse and carriage too fast through the streets of Washington D.C.

The "OK" President: Martin Van Buren (from Kinderhook, NY) inspired the term "OK." His supporters formed "Old Kinderhook" (O.K.) clubs, and the name eventually became a global synonym for "all right."

Technology Moves In: The White House launched its very first website in October 1994 under Bill Clinton.

The Name "White House": Before Theodore Roosevelt officially gave it the name "The White House" in 1901, it was called the Presidential Palace or Executive Residence.

The Unelected President: Gerald Ford is the only person to serve as both Vice President and President without ever being elected to either office.

Strange Traditions & Symbols

The Anthem: It was President Herbert Hoover who officially approved "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem.

The Donkey and the Elephant: Cartoonist Thomas Nast created these famous symbols in 1874. He used the elephant to represent Republicans and the donkey for Democrats in a satirical cartoon that stuck forever.

Travel Evolution: Teddy Roosevelt was the first to drive a car while in office, but his cousin, FDR, was the first to actually fly in a plane while serving as president.

Women in the Race: Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for president in 1872-long before women had the right to vote. Hillary Clinton became the first major-party female nominee in 2016.

The Term Limit: Only 13 presidents have served two full terms. FDR served the longest, winning four elections before the two-term limit was added to the Constitution.

Tragedy in Office: Eight US presidents died in office: William Henry Harrison (pneumonia), Zachary Taylor (gastroenteritis), Abraham Lincoln (assassinated), James Garfield (assassinated), William McKinley (assassinated), Warren Harding (heart attack), Franklin D. Roosevelt (cerebral hemorrhage), and John F. Kennedy (assassinated).

TV Debates: The first televised debate was between JFK and Richard Nixon in 1960. It was so impactful that it took 20 years for candidates to agree to do them regularly again.

(Telegraf.rs)