We’re still a year away from the presidential and most Congressional elections, but Election Day 2023 still has plenty of races worth watch. Governors are being elected in Kentucky and Mississippi. Ohio is voting on abortion protections. And Rhode Island will hold a special election for a Congressional seat.
Despite the importance of these and many other local elections, Election Day is still not a federal holiday – and many states to not recognize it as one, despite widespread support. And that can make it hard to know whether you’ll be able to get everything done that you wanted to.
If your plans include retailers and grocery stores, you’re fine. Neither make any accommodations for the day. Neither do restaurants. If you’re unsure of how your local government operations will be impacted, though, or if you can make a bank deposit or withdrawal, we’ve got you covered.
Are banks open on Election Day?
Yes. Election Day is not a federal holiday, meaning banks will be open during their regular hours.
Will there be any mail delivery on Election Day?
There will. Again, without this being designated a federal holiday, postal carriers don’t get the day off. UPS and FedEx will have normal operations as well
Is the stock market open on Election Day?
The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets all will be open for trading today. The next scheduled holiday for Wall Street is Thanksgiving.
Are government offices open on Election Day?
This is where it gets a bit muddy.
Federal offices will be open, as will federal courts, in general. However, 19 states, along with Puerto Rico, have declared Election Day to be a civic holiday. That means, all government offices (minus election offices) will be closed if you live in one of these states:
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Montana
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Are schools open on Election Day?
Again, there’s no blanket answer to that. In general, though, many kids will be able to sleep in, since school campuses are often polling places. That could create a child care issue for parents.
Are any retail and grocery stores closed on Election Day?
Nah. You’re good to go there. No major retailer shuts down for this holiday.