Is Election Day a federal holiday?

Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 3, this year, but voters across America do not automatically get the day off to exercise their civic duty.

With Veterans Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving (November 26) around the corner, Americans might confuse the midterm elections as a day recognized by banks nationally.

However, the first Tuesday in November is not considered one of the 11 federal holidays.

Despite numerous attempts to make it so in Congress, voter turnout has not been consistently high enough over the years to justify legislation.

More than half of all states across the country observe Election Day as a legal holiday, which requires workplaces to offer time to employees to head to the polls. Whether the leave is paid and how much time off employees get varies by state.

Find the full list of 2026 federal holidays below:

New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Monday, January 19

Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 16

Memorial Day: Monday, May 25

Juneteenth National Independence Day: Friday, June 19

Independence Day: Saturday, July 4

Labor Day: Monday, September 7

Indigenous Peoples’ Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, October 12

Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11

Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26

Christmas Day: Friday, December 25

Other important days to note:

Valentine’s Day: Saturday, February 14

St. Patrick’s Day: Tuesday, March 17

April Fools’ Day: Wednesday, April 1

First Day of Passover: Wednesday, April 1

Good Friday: Friday, April 3

Easter: Sunday, April 5

Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 10

Father’s Day: Sunday, June 21

Halloween: Saturday, October 31

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3

First Day of Hanukkah: Friday, December 4

Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24

New Year’s Eve: Thursday, December 31