Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, the final midterm election of President Donald Trump's second term, and it will determine who controls Congress.
With the stakes so high, voters are showing up. More than 54 million Americans have cast early voting ballots, 8 million more than the 2022 midterm election, according to the University of Florida Election Lab
. About 45.9 million people cast early votes ahead of 2022 Election Day.Each state, not the federal government, determines how Election Day is observed. Some states observe Election Day as a public holiday, some require employers to provide paid time off for voting and others (most states) don't observe the day or require any PTO for employee voting.
Here's what to know ahead of Election Day, including
the states that recognize it as a public holiday.
Is Election Day a federal holiday?
No, Election Day is not a federal holiday.
Are banks, post offices and businesses closed on Election Day?
No, U.S. banks, financial markets, major grocery store chains and retailers are open on Election Day because it is not a federal holiday.
Which states recognize Election Day as a state holiday?
Several states recognize Election Day as a public holiday, with some requiring employers to provide paid time off for voting. Here's a look at those states, according to nonprofit Movement Advancement Project:
States where Election Day is a public holiday, and employers are required to provide PTO for voting
- Illinois
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- New York
- West Virginia
States where Election Day is a public holiday, and employers are not required to provide PTO for voting
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisana
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
States where Election Day is not a public holiday but employers are required to provide PTO for voting
Several states require employers to provide paid time off for voting but do not recognize Election Day as a public holiday, according to the Movement Advancement Project:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
How many federal holidays are left in 2026?
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, there are three federal holidays left in 2026:
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Nov. 26
- Christmas Day: Friday, Dec. 25
Contributing: Amaris Encinas, Stephen J. Beard and George Petras, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Election Day 2026 a federal holiday? What to know
