What's open on General Election Day 2026?
General Election Day is a state holiday, next on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Here is what is open and closed: post office, banks, stock market, government offices, schools and stores.
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Open | Not a postal holiday; regular mail delivery and retail hours nationwide. |
| Banks | Open | The Federal Reserve is open, so banks keep normal hours. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Regular trading session; markets do not close for elections. |
| Federal offices | Open | Not a federal holiday; agencies operate normally. |
| State and local government | Varies | Closed in the nine observing states in even-numbered years; open elsewhere. |
| Public schools | Varies | Many districts close or hold a teacher workday because schools are polling places. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Normal hours everywhere. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Normal hours; some offer election-night specials. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decide what shuts on any given American holiday, and they do not always agree. The federal list in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 governs federal offices, federal courts and the U.S. Postal Service, and the Federal Reserve follows the same calendar — which is why banks close on federal holideys and stay open on state-only ones. State holiday statutes are separate: each state legislature sets its own list for state employees, courts, DMV offices and usually public schools, so a day can be a paid holiday in Texas and an ordinary Tuesday in Ohio. Private employers answer to neither - no federal law requires any private business to close or to pay a premium for holiday work, so retailers, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced housr on all but a handful of days.
General Election Day is a state holiday, so only the second rule applies: offices close in the states that observe it, while federal offices, post offices and banks stay open. The stock market keeps its own calendar again: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close for nine of the eleven federal holidays plus Good Friday, but trade normally on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when the bond market closes and the equity market does not.
Hours vary by location and year. Check with the branch or office before you go. For dates through 2027 and the history, see the main General Election Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on General Election Day?
Yes. Not a postal holiday; regular mail delivery and retail hours nationwide.
Are banks open on General Election Day?
Yes. The Federal Reserve is open, so banks keep normal hours.
Is the stock market open on General Election Day?
Yes. Regular trading session; markets do not close for elections.
Are federal offices open on General Election Day?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; agencies operate normally.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on General Election Day?
It depends. Closed in the nine observing states in even-numbered years; open elsewhere.
Are schools open on General Election Day?
It depends. Many districts close or hold a teacher workday because schools are polling places.
Are stores open on General Election Day?
Yes. Normal hours everywhere.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on General Election Day?
Yes. Normal hours; some offer election-night specials.