U.S. Federal Offices and Markets Remain Open for Election Day

The United States observed Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Because the date is not an official federal holiday, federal government offices, the Federal Reserve, and the New York Stock Exchange remained open for normal business. The United States Postal Service operated fully, maintaining regular mail delivery while implementing extraordinary measures to process ballot mail. Private carriers, including FedEx, UPS, and Amazon, also maintained regular schedules.

Operational status varied at the state and local levels. Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Rhode Island, and West Virginia recognized the day as a state holiday, which resulted in the closure of state agencies. In New York, the day served as a floating holiday for some state employees.

While major retailers and grocery stores remained open, public school schedules differed across districts. Some schools closed their buildings to serve as polling centers or to allow for teacher professional development.